Let’s talk about Bollywood and mental health. Let’s admit, we’re no strangers to drama—big heartbreaks, long monologues, and a lot of crying on screen. But when does Bollywood go in on mental health? Let’s say it can be a rollercoaster.
Some films nail it, treating the subject with the respect and realism it deserves, while others? They’ll have you wondering if the scriptwriter googled “mental health” five minutes before shooting. So here’s a deep dive into the hits, misses, and everything Bollywood did in between regarding mental health.
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Hit: Dear Zindagi (2016)
Dear Zindagi, I had everyone taking notes. The movie follows Kaira, a cinematographer with some big personal issues and even bigger commitment issues. Enter Dr. Jehangir Khan (or “Jug” for us emotionally vulnerable souls), who helps her unpack her life piece by piece, using her therapy style.
Instead of diving into a romantic storyline, Dear Zindagi offers one of the most honest portrayals of therapy and mental health that Bollywood has dared to offer.
Why it worked: It didn’t sensationalise therapy, and more importantly, it didn’t villainize mental illness. Kaira isn’t made out to be “crazy” or a “lost cause”; she’s a regular person facing regular (but complex) issues.
The film became real and relatable and never once made mental health look like an over-the-top life-or-death situation. Plus, after watching this, who didn’t want Shah Rukh Khan as their therapist?
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Miss: Tere Naam (2003)
Tere Naam, the movie where Radhe’s obsession with Nirjara is somehow spun as tragic, tortured love. After Nirjara’s rejection, Radhe spirals into a breakdown and ends up in an asylum, and the entire film frames his aggressive, obsessive behaviour as… romantic?
Tere Naam somehow thinks abuse plus a breakdown equals true love—and it does so without even hinting at any mental health insights.
Why it’s problematic: The movie treats Radhe’s violent outbursts as love and his breakdown as inevitable, instead of addressing the need for actual help or healing. Rather than delving into mental health, Tere Naam makes it look like an “illness” that can only be solved through a dramatic ending, and that’s a hard no.
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Hit: Taare Zameen Par (2007)
Taare Zameen Par put a much-needed spotlight on dyslexia, showing us the world from the eyes of Ishaan, a young boy struggling in a system that just doesn’t get him. With the help of his art teacher, Ishaan slowly finds his confidence and realises he isn’t “broken,” just different.
Why it worked: The movie never reduced Ishaan’s struggles to mere drama. Instead, it beautifully captured the pain and frustration that kids with learning disabilities face. The empathy factor was strong with this one, and it showed that with the right support, kids with learning differences can thrive. Bollywood actually understood that compassion trumps melodrama—refreshing, right?
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Miss: Kyon Ki (2005)
This film had it all—a mental institution, forbidden love, and a storyline that’s barely coherent. It’s supposed to be a love story between a doctor and a patient, but honestly, the representation of mental illness is just chaotic.
The characters with mental health issues are used as plot devices, often dismissed or mishandled with stereotypical “crazy” behaviour that does nothing for the plot or for mental health awareness.
Why it’s problematic: The movie frames mental illness as something dramatic and tragic without ever addressing it meaningfully. It reduces complex issues into clichés and gives zero insight into the struggles of people dealing with them. Let’s just say Kyon Ki could’ve used a little Dear Zindagi magic.
Hit (but with a slight side-eye): Barfi! (2012)
Barfi! showcased a love story involving an autistic woman, Jhilmil, and a hearing-impaired man, Barfi. It was sweet, it was endearing, and it treated Jhilmil’s autism with a certain level of respect, which isn’t always seen in Bollywood. Jhilmil wasn’t a “problem” to be fixed—she was a fully realised character.
Where it’s tricky: The film uses autism as a quirky character trait, often making Jhilmil’s struggles seem cute rather than realistic. There’s charm, sure, but a little too much sugar-coating of her character can feel a tad dismissive of the actual challenges faced by autistic individuals.
Miss: Judgementall Hai Kya (2019)
Despite the movie’s intriguing title and claims of breaking mental health stigmas, Judgementall Hai Kya was more confusing than helpful. The story follows Bobby, a woman with severe mental health issues who becomes a murder suspect, making her mental health the film’s central “quirky” gimmick.
There’s paranoia, hallucinations, and a lot of erratic behavior—but no real exploration or empathy for her mental health issues.
Why it’s problematic: Rather than portraying Bobby’s struggles with depth, the movie turns her issues into a thriller element, mixing up mental illness with instability and violent tendencies. The line between mental health and “psycho killer vibes” gets way too blurry here, and it ultimately reinforces the stereotype that people with mental health issues are dangerous or unhinged. Not exactly the message we’re looking for.
Hit: Tamasha (2015)
Tamasha is a complicated movie to understand. It follows Ved, who struggles with identity and life pressures. Through his journey, we see how societal expectations and personal suppression take a toll on his mental well-being. It’s an unconventional take on mental health, showing how deeply one’s passion (or lack thereof) can impact one’s happiness.
Where it could be better: Although Ved’s struggles are shown well, they’re mostly framed around his career and identity crisis, leaving out a more nuanced exploration of his mental health. It does highlight some mental health aspects but stops short of going fully there. Still, it’s an important movie that sparked much conversation, and we love that for Bollywood.
When Bollywood explores mental health, the results are mixed. Sometimes, they handle it with compassion and accuracy, giving viewers a sense of validation. Other times, they trip up, using mental health as a shortcut to drama and tragedy. Here’s hoping we get more of Dear Zindagi and fewer “just act crazy for effect” plots.