Updated on: 18 October, 2023 04:05 PM IST |Shweta Shah
Along with being famous, Bollywood actresses are equally influential. Every word they say counts and at times, many can even relate to them. Speaking of being relatable, several Bollywood moms including Frieda Pinto, Shilpa Shetty, and more opened up about their struggles with postpartum depression. Lets see how they normalized talking about such intimate topics.
1. Sameera Reddy
At one of the public events, the actress opened up about her journey to dealing with postpartum depression. This was after the birth of her first child.Sameera Reddy said, “When Hans came, I felt completely disconnected. I didn't know who he was. I gave him to my husband and told him, 'I just don't feel good about this; please take him'. It literally took me one week to understand what was going on. Women were mean, and I am not joking. I would look in the mirror and hate myself. And I wish I had somebody to tell me it's okay; it's fine.”
2. Soha Ali Khan
Soha Ali Khan also went through postpartum depression and spoke about how she had frequent breakdowns after she welcomed her daughter, Inaaya.She said, “A new mother goes through ups and downs; you get blues, you get depressed, you feel bad as everyone is going out to party, and you’ve got to be at home. You can’t do certain things. I tried to remain balanced about it. But I’ve had breakdowns in the early weeks.”
3. Freida Pinto
The Slumdog Millionaire actress turns 39 today. She welcomed her son in 2021. However, it wasn't an easy postpartum journey for her. Freida Pinto used to feel alone and cry at the drop of a hat.The Hollywood diva said, "It really hit me after the first three months. In the fourth month, when I flew back to LA and was ready to kind of dip my toe back into work, the anxiety really started building. I was feeling like, 'I can't do this; what have I done? The baby's always screaming'. I remember crying so much and feeling so alone, and my parents had just about left to fly back to India."
4. Shilpa Shetty
The popular Bollywood diva is known for being a fitness freak and a yoga expert. However, despite maintaining a healthy lifestyle, Shilpa Shetty had to battle postpartum depression after her son Vivaan's birth in 2012.“The first time around, you were breastfeeding and tired all the time. You feel like a cow. I also went through postpartum depression, though I bounced out of it in about two weeks," said the actress.
5. Esha Deol
On a YouTube chat show, the Dhoom actress opened up about her battle with postpartum depression after she welcomed her second child, Miraya.Esha Deol elaborated, “After my second delivery, I didn’t know what it was. I didn’t experience it, so I didn’t know. And right after delivery, I didn’t know what was going on as I was in a room filled with people, and suddenly, I felt like crying. I sat quietly and very quietly. And I have given birth to a beautiful baby girl again, and it’s a very happy moment in my life, and I didn’t know what’s going on.”
6. Ileana D'Cruz
The Barfi actress opened up about her pregnancy, her life after having a child, and her partner, Michael Dolan. This was the first time Ileana D'Cruz spoke up about her personal life after welcoming her son, Koa Phoenix Dolan.She also shared how postpartum depression is real. In the same interview, the new mommy said, "Postpartum depression is very real, and nothing can prepare you for it. I am glad that I had a good support system at home and a team of doctors who took good care of me. Topics like mom guilt are so real. I remember I was in my room, and I started crying."
"My partner asked me what was wrong, and I told him, 'I know it sounds really stupid, but my son is sleeping in the other room, and I am missing him.' So, there are these intense emotions you go through after having a baby. I am still going through it," Ileana said.
