Anjuum Faakih on surviving depression; says, "Managing it doesn't make you weak, it makes you incredibly strong"

• TvTalks Team
• 2025-07-21T16:01:00+05:30

Anjuum Faakih opens up about her emotional journey; says, "I was eventually diagnosed with depression"

Actress Anjuum Faakih, known for her roles in popular shows like Kundali Bhagya, Dabangii Mulgii Aayi Re Aayi, and her daring appearance on Khatron Ke Khiladi 13, is all set to make a comeback with the reality show Chhoriyan Chali Gaon. But before stepping back into the limelight, she opens up about the silent storm she endured—one that kept her away from the cameras and headlines.

The actress shares that her disappearance from the screen wasn’t just professional—it was deeply personal. “The truth is, I didn’t have work for almost two years. One day you're out there, and the next, you're not. I didn't know how to face the paps, or even answer the simple question, 'What are you doing next?' when I genuinely had no answer. I feared being judged... or worse, being laughed at. So, I chose silence,” Anjuum reveals.

In an honest and emotional confession with The Times of India, she shares that during this phase of absence, she was also grappling with something bigger—mental health. “I was feeling lost, disconnected... like I was carrying a weight I couldn't name. And no, I don't want to romanticize struggle, but I do want to normalize saying, 'I'm not okay.' The moment you admit something's wrong is the moment healing begins. That's what I've been doing—step by step, day by day. And now, I'm finally starting to see a little light again.”

Anjuum traces the roots of her struggle with mental health back to her teenage years, she reveals, “I didn’t fully understand it back then. I just knew something was off. I was eventually diagnosed with depression,” she shares. “It's just waking up and carrying a heaviness you can't explain to anyone. I have lived through that. But I have also lived through the healing, through the support of doctors, medication, friends, and just learning how to be kind to myself on the hard days. I am sharing this now not because I want sympathy, but because I think it's important to normalise it. To let people know that mental health is real, and managing it doesn't make you weak, it makes you incredibly strong.”

While the internal battles were intense, the professional challenges weren’t any easier. She admits that she turned down projects during this phase, choosing to wait until she felt truly ready. “Because I didn't feel like myself. After I gained some weight, I started getting offered roles that didn't feel right. I needed to feel good inside and out before facing the camera again. Sometimes, it's okay to pause and say, 'Not right now.' I just wanted to return when I could give my 100%,” she shares.

That choice, however, came with its own financial consequences. “I didn't 'manage', I survived. It's been really tough. I used up almost all my savings just to get by. There were days I'd sit staring at my bank app, wondering how much longer I could stretch it. Saying no to work when you're financially strained is terrifying. But I had to choose between short-term money and long-term peace. And that choice came at a cost. I'm still figuring it out, but I have faith something will shift.”

When asked if this financial strain impacted her confidence and peace of mind, she responds candidly: “Yes, absolutely. It took a toll on every part of me and my life, my choices, even my confidence. Every time I said no to a project, a part of me panicked. The savings kept going down, and it started showing—in my sleep, my thoughts, my lifestyle. But even in those tough moments, I kept reminding myself: I'd rather wait for the right thing than say yes to something that doesn't feel right. And that belief kept me going.”

Now, with a renewed sense of purpose and energy, Anjuum is gearing up for her next chapter with Chhoriyan Chali Gaon. “I feel lighter, stronger, more alive. I'm finally in a space where I feel ready. Ready to work, to show up, to live fully again,” she concludes.