Prakash Padukone Shares How Friend's Death Inspired Deepika's Mental Health Advocacy

Badminton icon Prakash Padukone has opened up about his daughter, actress Deepika Padukone, and her public battle with depression, revealing that the loss of a close friend was a key turning point in her decision to launch her mental health foundation.

Speaking on The Something Bigger Show with Rodrigo Canelas, Padukone shared details about how his family navigated Deepika's diagnosis and her subsequent decision to speak out.

Padukone stated that he and his wife, Ujjala Padukone, stood firmly behind Deepika when she first proposed sharing her personal struggles with the public. He noted that the family had no objections to her decision, believing that her story could potentially help others who were dealing with similar issues.

"We were fully supportive," Prakash Padukone said during the interview. "She came to us and discussed it, and we had no objections at all. If sharing her experience could help others, we felt it was a positive thing to do."

He further revealed that Deepika's commitment to mental health advocacy intensified significantly following the death of one of her friends. This personal tragedy became a major catalyst, driving her determination to raise awareness and ultimately leading her to establish a dedicated mental health foundation.

"Later, after one of her friends passed away, she became even more determined to create awareness about mental health. That was when she started thinking about establishing a foundation focused on the issue," he explained.

When Deepika shared her plans to start the foundation with her parents, they encouraged her to move forward with the initiative. "When she discussed the idea with us, we encouraged her to go ahead," Padukone said.

Padukone emphasized that there is no reason for individuals to feel ashamed of their mental health struggles, highlighting the importance of family support and open conversation in managing emotional well-being and pressure.