Prakash Padukone reveals what pushed Deepika Padukone to speak publicly about depression: ‘Her friend passed away’

DEepika Padukone has been open up nearly her battle with great depression and has also started a grounding to raise awareness about mental health. Recently, Deepika’s father and former badminton player Prakash Padukone spoke about the actor’s battle with depression and how he and the family supported her when she decided to speak publicly about her experience.‘Supportive of Deepika’s decision'Speaking on The Something Bigger Show with Rodrigo Canelas, Prakash said, "We were fully supportive. 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. 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."Prakash called mental health a serious issue and pointed out that no one should "feel ashamed" to talk about it. He also shared that those who are in a position to help others by sharing their own experiences should come forward and be encouraged to do so.'Learned a lot from Deepika's experience'Prakash also shared how he learned from Deepika’s experience with mental health struggles. He said, "I learned that mental and physical health must always come first. You need proper rest, a healthy diet, exercise, and ways to manage stress. Everything is connected. People should not ignore signs of emotional distress. If you are struggling, talk to someone. It could be a friend, a family member, a therapist, or a professional. The worst thing is to keep everything bottled up inside because that is when problems can grow."Prakash lauded Deepika for her work in the mental health space and said that she will be remembered not only for her achievements in cinema but also for making a meaningful difference in the field of mental health awareness.For the unversed, Deepika Padukone founded her organisation, Live Love Laugh, in 2015 with the aim of reducing the stigma associated with mental illness and providing access to mental health resources. She spoke openly about her own struggles while empowering others to share their stories and seek help.Deepika's upcoming filmsOn the work front, Deepika will next be seen alongside Shah Rukh Khan in King. She will also play a pivotal role in the Telugu action thriller Raaka with Allu Arjun.On the personal front, the actor is expecting her second child. Deepika and husband Ranveer Singh are parents to daughter Dua, and they announced Deepika’s second pregnancy on April 19, 2026, through a joint social media post.