Mahira Khan reveals battling depression after smoking photos with Ranbir Kapoor went viral

Pakistani actress Mahira Khan recently spoke candidly about her mental health struggles following the URI attacks in 2016, the time when Pakistani actors were banned in India. In an interview with the FWhy Podcast, the Raees actress opened up about her manic depression. She also talked about how she found herself in the midst of controversies after pictures of her and Ranbir Kapoor smoking in public went viral. 

3 things you need to know

• Mahira Khan reveals she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and manic depression.
• She is currently on the medication for the same.
• She shared how the backlash over her smoking photos with Ranbir Kapoor triggered her mental health. 

Mahira Khan on her smoking photos with Ranbir Kapoor

During the interview, Mahira Khan addressed how she found herself in the midst of controversies after multiple photos of her smoking with Ranbir Kapoor went viral on social media. She said, "That (backlash) brought out the anxiety and depression hidden inside me. That was a hard time for me. I felt attacked. The constant backlash—you are getting mean tweets, comments on their channels (Indian news channels)."

(Mahira Khan's viral photo with Ranbir Kapoor | Image: Fan Page/X)

"That was a time my faith broke and I developed severe anxiety, to the point that one day I had a panic attack and fainted. That’s the first time I went for therapy. But that didn’t work out, as I went to several therapists. That year was rough. I couldn’t sleep. My hands used to shake," she added. Mahira also disclosed that she has been on antidepressant medicines for the past seven years and talked about her mental health in detail.

Mahira Khan reveals her trigger point 

Mahira Khan revealed that her symptoms worsened following the ban on Pakistani artists performing in India following the Uri attack in 2016. The actress described the emotional toll she felt following the release of Raees, which served as a trigger for her mental health issues. She stated that the hostility she received compelled her to seek professional assistance.