Anisha Padukone has reflected on the period when her sister, Deepika Padukone, was battling depression and anxiety, admitting that she did not fully understand the signs of mental health struggles at the time. Speaking recently, Anisha shared how Deepika’s experience in 2014 became a turning point not only for the actor but also for her own understanding of mental well-being.Recalling those difficult years, Anisha said she felt unprepared to recognise what Deepika was going through, especially since the two sisters were living in different cities.“For me personally, I was not aware enough about the signs and symptoms to be able to understand what she was really going through. The fact that we didn’t live in the same city also didn’t not help, and I am really caught unaware and off guard. Her (Deepika Padukone) journey teaches me that I do not know enough about the subject and need to read and understand more in order to support her in the way that is required,” Anisha Padukone said, as quoted by PTI.She further explained that witnessing her sister’s struggles prompted her to pay closer attention to her own mental health as well.“That is also when my own mental health journey begins. I start taking better care of my mental health. As an athlete, I always focus on physical health to some extent, but not so much on mental health. The more I research and understand this subject, the more I realise that there are millions of people, not just in India but globally, going through similar experiences,” Deepika’s sister added.Over the years, Deepika Padukone has emerged as one of the most prominent voices advocating for mental health awareness in India. She was among the first major Bollywood stars to speak publicly about living with clinical depression and anxiety, helping to normalise conversations around mental well-being.In 2015, Deepika established The Live Love Laugh Foundation to promote awareness about mental health and challenge the stigma surrounding it. Anisha currently serves as the CEO of the organisation, continuing the foundation’s efforts to support those dealing with mental health issues.On the professional front, Deepika recently returned from South Africa after completing an extensive shooting schedule for ‘King’, co-starring Shah Rukh Khan. The film is slated to release on December 24. She is also set to feature in Atlee’s upcoming project, ‘Raaka’.
