One of the kindest things I did for myself was to accept my condition. I didn’t fight it. The doctor prescribed me medication and recommended some lifestyle changes, prioritizing sleep, healthy eating, exercise and mindfulness. The process made me a lot more aware of who I am.

As I recovered, I started to reflect on my experience. Why did I not know anything about this illness? Why had no one — with the exception of my mother — recognized the signs? And why had I been so reluctant to voice my own feelings? Those questions led me to the decision to go public with my condition. If even one person struggling with mental health issues read about my story and felt they were not alone, it would be enough.

My team and I decided to do it in a way that would reach the largest number of people in India: an interview with the Hindustan Times, followed by an appearance on national television. It was 2015.

I didn’t think about the consequences — whether it might cause me to lose movie roles or product endorsements. I just wanted to be honest and share my story. Sure, I had a little apprehension. A few people wondered if it was a publicity stunt. Some suggested I was being paid by a pharmaceutical company to speak about the illness. But the impact I was able to have on the people hearing my story was what mattered most.

Luckily, I received a lot of support. What I had been through resonated with many people.

Everywhere I went — an event, a film set, the spa — people wanted to share their mental health struggles with me. It was as if this secret that had been hidden at the back of our shared closet had finally come out.