2016: The year that made Bollywood stars more human

If there’s one thing that 2016 will be remembered for, it’s Bollywood’s fearlessness about showing their vulnerable side to the fans. Most importantly, many industry names came forward with revelations about abuse and battles with depression. Deepika Padukone went public with her struggle with depression, and musician Yo Yo Honey Singh too spoke about his long and painful journey of dealing with bipolar disorder. Not just them, even Anushka Sharma spoke up about her anxiety disorder, while Ranbir Kapoor won numerous hearts when he admitted he had a drinking problem.

Enthused by their willingness about speaking about their vulnerability, other Bollywood celebrities spoke about their psychological vulnerabilities. Actresses Kalki Koechlin and Sonam Kapoor opened up about being sexually abused in the past. Rarely have we ever seen a year where movie stars have been this willing to let their weaknesses show in public.

Farhan Akhtar, who issues a public statement about separating from his wife Adhuna Akhtar, said it was very important for public figures to not project themselves as invincible to the public. “We all have our weak moments and vulnerable phases. It’s up to the individual to decide how he or she wants to project the vulnerability in public, or whether he or she wants to speak about it at all,” he asserted.