“As difficult as dealing with mental illness was, I’m also grateful that I went through that experience because it changed my life forever”: Deepika Padukone on Spotify’s ‘Archetype’ podcast ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

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Over the years, Deepika Padukone has become the face and voice of mental health in India, and beyond. The actress, producer, and philanthropist featured on the Spotify-exclusive podcast, ‘Archetype’ hosted by Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex. During the episode, the actress also quashed rumours of her and Ranveer Singh hitting a rough patch in their marriage.

During her conversation with Meghan, Deepika says, “It’s [mental health] the same way we have physical ailments. Our mind is very much a part of our body. But somehow, when it comes to mental illness, we start treating our minds like outside of our bodies”.

In many parts of the world, including India, mental health and conversations around it are still considered taboo. Deepika Padukone breaks this down beautifully, “There’s two parts to this. One is, I think, where people struggle the most, especially in India, where there’s so much stigma attached to mental illness – creating awareness. Most of us don’t even know that we’re struggling with mental illness. And second, if we are to destigmatize it, to let people know that it’s okay to seek help and to let caregivers know that it’s okay for someone to go through this.”

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