Rhea Chakraborty on Healing, Faith, and Mental Health

Rhea Chakraborty has had a journey in the last five years that few in show business experience. Following the death of her ex-boyfriend, actor Sushant Singh Rajput, in 2020, Rhea faced jail time and a social boycott. Recently, she was given a clean chit by the CBI, though the decision was opposed by Sushant’s family. The ordeal deeply affected Rhea’s mental health, and she revealed she suffered from PTSD.

Rhea said that her public struggle made people more comfortable sharing their own problems with her. “A lot of people felt I understood mental health issues. Even friends I’ve known for years opened up about their struggles only after my incident,” she shared.

Speaking about her healing process, Rhea explained, “Every morning and night, I would remind myself what I’m thankful for — sometimes it felt like there was nothing to be thankful for, but I’d still be grateful for being able to walk, see, or move.”

Rhea credits her faith and spirituality for helping her cope. “I started reading the Hanuman Chalisa in 2020, and now I recite it at least seven times a day. It has become a form of meditation for me,” she revealed. She also found strength in close friendships and conversations, which inspired her to start her podcast. “Sharing is powerful. People just want to be understood. Finding a community that listens and empathizes helps us heal,” she said.

Addressing the stigma around mental health, Rhea highlighted that many still dismiss it as “drama” or believe one can simply “control the mind.” She emphasized that real mental health issues stem from chemical imbalances that patients cannot manage on their own.