Deepika Padukone has been one of Bollywood’s most vocal voices on mental health. But while she bravely shared her battle with depression with the world, even her own sister did not see it coming. Professional golfer Anisha Padukone has now opened up about how she completely missed the signs during one of Deepika’s darkest times. She also talked about how DP’s battle enabled her to take care of her own mental health.
Anisha Padukone On Sister Deepika’s Depression Battle
In a conversation with PTI, Anisha admitted that she had no idea what Deepika was going through at the time. She said she was not aware enough about the signs and symptoms to understand what her sister was really experiencing, and that the distance between their cities made it even harder to notice.
Anisha described the whole experience as something that caught her completely off guard. She said it taught her that she did not know enough about the subject, and that she needed to read and understand more so she could offer the kind of support that was truly needed.
She also shared that watching Deepika go through this difficult phase marked the beginning of her own mental health journey. As an athlete, she had always focused on her physical health, but the experience made her realise she had been neglecting her mental well-being.
Anisha added that the more she read about the subject, the more she understood that millions of people across the world go through similar struggles without anyone around them knowing about it.
herself had earlier recalled how things came to a head when her mother visited her in Mumbai. The moment her mother was about to leave for Bangalore, she broke down completely. She told her family she felt helpless and hopeless, and even said she did not want to live anymore. Thankfully, her mother recognised the warning signs and urged her to speak to a psychologist.
Deepika Padukone
Deepika has since spoken about the stigma around mental health in India and how speaking openly about her depression made her feel lighter and free. She has consistently said that depression and anxiety can affect absolutely anyone.
Deepika Padukone Work Front
On the professional front, Deepika has a strong lineup of films ahead. She will next be seen in King, an action thriller directed by Siddharth Anand, set to release on December 24, 2026, and starring Shah Rukh Khan, Suhana Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, and others.
She also has Raaka in the pipeline, directed by Atlee and headlined by Allu Arjun, with Deepika playing a key role in the film.