📣 For more lifestyle news, click here to join our WhatsApp Channel and also follow us on Instagram
© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd
Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Actor Deepti Naval recently opened up about the end of her marriage to filmmaker Prakash Jha, and her candid reflections highlight the kind of struggles many people quietly endure after separation.
In an interview with BBC News Hindi, Deepti shared that her relationship with Prakash began during films like Kamla, Ankahee, and his directorial debut Hip Hip Hurray. She recalled the challenges of balancing marriage and career at the time, “When I got married, Bollywood still ran on the same principle that said if a heroine gets married, her career is over; she has to close down shop. People would presume that you weren’t interested if you got married, and they would just stop approaching you for work. What followed was a rather dark period for me, which is hard for me to talk about, but I can do it.”
While she and Prakash “are very good friends today and are each other’s support system,” she admitted that things weren’t always so smooth. Looking back, Deepti revealed, “There was a time right after my marriage that, within a few years, I realised that things weren’t working out like the way I thought they would. At one point, our relationship came to a place where the communication between us had completely crashed. When the marriage didn’t work out, and being the kind of person I am, I went through very bad depression.”
Drawing from her background in psychology, Deepti recognised what she was going through. “I was a student of psychology in school, and I had certain experiences, or witnessed them rather.”
She also explained why seeking help felt especially difficult: “When you hit rock bottom, you are the only one that can pull yourself from that pit. Being a celebrity, you couldn’t run to someone for your mental health, because I was always conscious of what people would think if the news got out that I was taking someone’s help. So I decided that I will help myself out of this.” Her experience sheds light on how divorce and its aftermath can lead to intense feelings of loss, self-doubt, and loneliness.
Sonal Khangarot, licensed rehabilitation counsellor and psychotherapist, The Answer Room, tells indianexpress.com, “Depending on how the marriage was and the reasons for it ending, one has to consciously choose healthier ways of coping instead of letting pain take over.”
Some of them, according to her, are:
Allowing yourself to grieve: Suppressing emotions prolongs the pain. Acknowledge sadness, anger, or even relief, instead of judging yourself for feeling them.
Rebuilding identity: Many people lose sight of who they are outside the marriage. Reconnecting with hobbies, passions, and personal goals helps rediscover individuality.
Seeking social support: Talking to close friends, family, or even support groups prevents isolation and helps normalise the experience of loss.
Therapy or counselling: Processing complex emotions in a safe space helps prevent depression and anxiety from worsening.
Communication is essential to any relationship, whether it is verbal or non-verbal.
“When communication breaks down completely, couples often experience constant misunderstandings, avoidance of difficult conversations, or emotional withdrawal. A red flag that things may be beyond repair is when attempts at dialogue consistently lead to hostility, silence, or indifference — where one or both partners no longer have the willingness to try,” states Khangarot.
Khangarot mentions that self-expression and hobbies play a very important role in healing after divorce. When a relationship ends, it often leaves behind a void — emotionally, socially, and sometimes even in terms of daily structure. “Engaging in creative outlets like writing, painting, or music allows a person to process emotions without always needing words. It becomes a safe channel to release anger, grief, or confusion and slowly transform that pain into something constructive.”
