Subhechcha Ganguly 
Actor Rhea Chakraborty recently reflected on the intense emotional journey she faced over the last five years — a period marked by public scrutiny, imprisonment, and personal trauma following the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput in 2020. Having now received a clean chit from the CBI, Rhea shared how the ordeal deeply affected her mental health, leading to PTSD, but also helped her connect with people on a more human level.
“What I went through was so public that people felt comfortable sharing their problems with me because they believed I understood mental health issues,” she said. “Even close friends, who had hidden their struggles for years, opened up after seeing me go through difficult times.”
Rhea revealed that her healing journey began with spirituality. “I started reading the Hanuman Chalisa in 2020, and now I recite it at least seven times a day. It has become my form of meditation,” she shared. She also emphasized the importance of gratitude and human connection in recovery: “Even when it felt like there was nothing to be thankful for, I reminded myself that I could walk, see, and move — and that was enough.”
The actor highlighted the need for empathy and awareness around mental health, calling out the stigma that persists in society. “Many still believe mental health issues are just drama or weakness. What people don’t realize is that true mental illness involves a chemical imbalance — it’s not something one can simply control,” she said.
Rhea, who now hosts a podcast aimed at fostering open conversations, added, “Sharing is powerful. People just want to be understood and seen. When we create communities based on empathy and understanding, we help each other heal.”
