Mahira Khan opens up about bipolar disorder diagnosis and clinical depression
She talked about the backlash she faced following the 2016 Uri attacks and how the situation took a toll on her mental health and eventually led to her diagnosis of bipolar disorder.
Well-known Pakistani actress Mahira Khan, who has also starred alongside superstar Shah Rukh Khan in the 2017 Bollywood film Raees, has opened up about the backlash she faced following the 2016 Uri attacks and how the situation took a toll on her mental health and eventually led to her diagnosis of bipolar disorder.
In an appearance on the FWhy podcast, a tearful Mahira spoke about the backlash that she experienced after Raees, saying, “That year was rough. The same year Raees released was the same year Verna released, and the same year the whole picture thing happened, and it broke me. It was unexpected. I’d finished the film. It was going just fine. Then suddenly this attack happens, and politically, everything gets political. It’s always political. With India, it’s always political. But the fact that it would get this messy…”
She also spoke about how she would receive threats and really negative tweets. “Constant tweets, constant. In fact, I would get calls and very scary ones. The only thing I wanted was, okay fine, I can’t go to India to promote it, I can’t enjoy this, but I hope it releases in my country. Because I knew that people would rush to the cinemas to watch it, he (Shah Rukh Khan) is really loved here. That was heartbreaking. It brought on an anxiety that I have always had inside me, the depression, it came to the surface.”
She further added, “I ended up in a psychiatrist’s office, and she said, ‘We’ll talk about everything later, but I need you to know that you have manic depression’. This is the first time I’m saying that, I don’t know if I should. It’s been six-seven years, and I’ve been on anti-depressants. I tried leaving them in the middle, and I went into a very, very dark space.”
Mahira also described how she felt when she was at her lowest after she decided to stop taking her medicines. “Last year, I was bad, I was in bed… I remember, very well that I couldn’t even get up from my bed to go to the bathroom. I was that bad, it was that dark. I remember praying, ‘I promise you Allah, if you show me even this much hope or light, I will take it and I will run with it.’ And when he did, and when I went back on my medicines, I woke up feeling like, ‘Oh my god, I feel like I can smile, feel lighter’.”
The eight-member K-pop group YOUNITE performed for the first time in India at Delhi's Rang De Korea festival.
Members expressed astonishment at the welcome from Indian fans, describing the trip as feeling "unreal."
Indian cuisine, especially curries and coriander, became an instant favourite for the band.
Rapper Dey specifically named Indian artist Hanumankind as a desired collaborator.
The band's India tour continues with a performance at Mumbai’s K-Harmony Festa.
The energy at Delhi’s Nexus Select City Walk was off the charts and you could feel it buzzing in the air. K-pop group YOUNITE finally hit the stage for their first gig ever in India. And this wasn’t just any show. It was part of the Rang De Korea festival, which signals that the Hallyu wave is truly catching fire here. The crowd went wild. Lights were everywhere. The band looked around and realised that this night was something special; it was not just another pin on their tour map.
YOUNITE performs for the first time in India at Delhi’s Rang De Korea festival Instagram/canalextra_/younite_bnm
What went down for Younite at their India debut?
To put it simply: it was absolute madness, in the best way possible. Steve, the lead singer, couldn’t stop grinning even hours later. He kept saying it all felt dreamlike. He mentioned the crowd’s noise was next-level, unlike anything they had heard before. It wasn’t just about singing and dancing, either.
The guys went full tourist, checking out Humayun’s Tomb and, probably the highlight, getting thoroughly stuck into local street food. If you’ve seen their socials, you know they didn’t hold back. The consensus? The curries were a triumph, with Steve singling out the potent flavour of fresh coriander as a game-changer.
Who does Younite want to collaborate with from India?
This is where things get interesting for music fans. When the topic of potential Indian partnerships came up, rapper Dey didn't hesitate. He immediately named Hanumankind, revealing the track 'Big Dawgs' was already on their playlist. Dey mused that their styles could mesh well, creating something genuinely fresh and fun.
It’s a clear signal that the group is looking beyond a simple performance, actively seeking to build bridges with local artists and sounds. This specific interest in a YOUNITE Hanumankind collaboration has certainly set fan forums alight.
The Delhi gig was only the first chapter. The group is now headed to Mumbai for the inaugural K-Harmony Festa, ensuring their Indian introduction is a two-city affair. They’ve promised to bring the same, if not more, intense energy to that stage. Beyond the immediate tour, their comments suggest a strong desire to return. The warmth from the fans and the vibrant culture seem to have hooked them. Given their clear enjoyment of the food, the history, and the music scene, this YOUNITE India debut likely won't be their last.
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