Badminton icon Prakash Padukone has opened up about daughter Deepika Padukone’s decision to publicly discuss her battle with depression, revealing that she fully supported the family’s efforts to raise awareness about mental health.Speaking to Rodrigo Canelas on The Something Bigger Show, Prakash reflected on Deepika’s career, her advocacy work and the lessons she’s learned about managing pressure and emotional well-being.
“We fully supported”
Prakash said that he and his wife Ujjala Padukone stood by Deepika when she decided to share her experience publicly.“We gave him full support. He came to us and discussed it, and we didn’t have any objections. Sharing his experience could help others, we thought it was a positive thing.”She revealed that after the loss of a friend, Deepika’s determination to work in the mental health field was strengthened.“Later, after one of his friends passed away, he became even more determined to create awareness about mental health. That’s when he started thinking about creating a foundation dedicated to the issue.”According to Prakash, when Deepika discussed her plans with her family, they encouraged her to go ahead.“When he discussed the idea with us, we encouraged him to continue.”
“There’s no reason to feel ashamed”
Prakash emphasized that mental health should be discussed openly and without stigma.“Mental health is a serious issue, and there’s no reason to feel ashamed of talking about it. If someone is in a position to help others by sharing their experience, that should be encouraged.”Public conversations about mental health can help many people seek help and treatment earlier.
Lessons on success, pressure and well-being
Reflecting on what Deepika’s experience taught him, Prakash said that health should always be a priority.“I learned that mental and physical health should always come first. You need adequate rest, healthy eating, exercise, and ways to manage stress. It’s all connected.”He also encouraged people not to suffer in silence.“People shouldn’t ignore signs of emotional distress. If you’re struggling, talk to someone. It can be a friend, a family member, a therapist or a professional. The worst thing is to keep everything inside, because then problems can grow.’According to him, awareness and early intervention are the keys.“Mental health problems are much more common than many people think, and can affect people of all ages. The sooner someone seeks help, the easier it is to deal with the problem.”
“We are very proud of what he has done”
Prakash said Deepika’s contribution to mental health awareness is something the entire family is proud of.“As parents, my wife and I are very proud of what we’ve done. A lot of people work in areas like education, poverty or child welfare, but there were very few when he started focusing on mental health awareness.”She believes her efforts have helped reduce stigma and increase understanding of depression and anxiety.“His foundation has helped raise awareness and reduce stigma around depression and anxiety.”Reflecting on the wider impact of his work, Prakash added, “In addition to being known for his acting career, I think he will also be remembered for his work in the field of mental health. Sometimes the impact of initiatives like this isn’t fully appreciated until years later, but I think it has made a significant difference.”
