As Pakistan’s onscreen narrative shifts, celebrities open up about anxiety, depression and survival
KARACHI:
In a culture long conditioned to disguise pain behind polite smiles and whispered prayers, Pakistani celebrities are beginning to speak openly about depression, anxiety and emotional collapseturning private suffering into public conversation, and slowly dismantling a stigma that has shadowed generations.
For years, mental health in Pakistan was a topic discussed in hushed tones or quietly swept under the rug. Celebrities — particularly women — were expected to radiate composure and grace, no matter the personal cost.
The closest glimpse audiences received of vulnerability was a vague “stress tha” [it was stress] or “tough time”. Today, that narrative is shifting — for both men and women.
Across platforms such as podcasts and Instagram posts, celebrities are naming what was once unspeakable: postpartum depression, panic attacks, anxiety, ADHD and long-term antidepressant use.
Sarwat Gilani’s confession on Nida Yasir’s morning show last year shocked some but comforted many mothers. Sharing her experience with postpartum depression, she revealed the raw truth behind motherhood. After her third child — whom she met four days after giving birth due to surgical complications — she went through a deeply frightening period.
She confessed to having intrusive dark thoughts which left her feeling guilty and isolated. Her husband recognised the condition as postpartum depression and supported her through it.
For a society that glorifies maternal sacrifice, naming the mental illness behind it marked a significant shift in media discourse.
Similarly, Mahira Khan, in a resurfaced podcast with Frieha Altaf, spoke about her long-term struggle with antidepressants. She disclosed that she has been on medication for six to seven years, adding that stopping them prematurely plunged her into a “very, very dark hole”.
Beyond prayers or friends, something simply was not okay. She wanted to normalise medication as treatment, not weakness.
Nausheen Shah has also spoken about experiencing panic attacks while filming on set. Uncontrollable shivering and severe anxiety left her feeling “like a zombie”, forcing her to question whether she would ever feel normal again.
Meanwhile, Saba Qamar revealed that years of internalised stress manifested physically in a heart attack last year. “Jo aap andar store kar rahe ho, wo aik din anxiety ki form mein aa jaayega” [whatever you have been storing inside, someday it comes out in the form of anxiety], she said.
The conversation is not limited to women. Actor Shehryar Munawar has encouraged men to seek therapy, stating that “sometimes things can be very overwhelming… it’s okay to ask for help”.
He framed therapy as a process rather than a one-time fix, comparing it to shopping. “The first pair of jeans is not going to fit,” he explained, challenging the long-standing expectation that men must remain stoic.
Appearing on Gup Shup with Fuchsia, Mawra Hocane — who recently married her co-star Ameer Gilani — has been addressing misconceptions surrounding marriage and mental health.
She rejected the idea that a romantic partner can ‘complete’ her, saying instead, “A happy marriage is a cherry on top”, emphasising that self-worth and emotional wellbeing are personal responsibilities.
Social media platforms including Instagram, TikTok and YouTube are amplifying this new honesty.
Reham Rafiq, a dancer and content creator, has posted from hospital rooms to raise awareness for caregivers and families dealing with mental health struggles.
Her content highlights anxiety, depression and ADHD, showing that awareness no longer needs to pass through traditional media. By sharing everyday challenges, she offers relatability to followers navigating similar battles in isolation.
The conversation continues to evolve, and one thing is clear: mental health is finally receiving the language and visibility it deserves.
New Pakistani dramas, including Case No.9 and Kafeel, are also challenging norms around depression, panic attacks, suicide, sexual harassment and abusive households — reflecting a broader cultural reckoning that is long overdue.
