Anjuum Faakih Opens Up On Battling Depression: 'I'm Still On Medicines'
Anjuum Faakih, joining Zee TV's Chhoriyan Chali Gaon, opens up about battling depression, therapy, and online hate, discussing mental health and social media's impact on casting.
Anjuum Faakih is embracing a whole new chapter both personally and professionally. She's currently gearing up to be a contestant on Zee TV's reality show Chhoriyan Chali Gaon. In an honest chat with News18 Showsha, the actress opened up about her long battle with depression. , The Kundali Bhagya star spoke about therapy, medication, online hate, and the growing influence of social media on casting in the entertainment industry.
Getting candid about her mental health journey, Anjuum revealed, 'I dealt with plenty of problems when I was around 18 or 19. I underwent proper counselling and took medications as well. I'm so glad my parents supported me back then — this was in 2006. Actually, even before that. But yes, I got help, and I truly believe it's okay to get help. It's okay to be on meds — because if that's what's keeping you sane, then why not? What I really don't want is for people to suffer silently, slip into depression, or struggle with mental health and then fall behind in life. That shouldn't happen."
Reflecting on how conversations around mental health have changed over time, she added, 'Today, when we talk about depression and mental health, at least there's awareness. Back in the day, we didn't even know such a thing existed. I'm a millennial — not a Gen Z — so I come from that era where we didn't even have mobile phones. I'm actually very happy that in today's world, people are opening up, seeking help — and that's a good thing. Change is the only constant, and we need to embrace that."
When we told her she seems fully healed now, she smiled and replied, 'I am still on meds."
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Despite being open about her vulnerabilities, Anjum has also had to deal with online trolling — something she's now grown indifferent to. 'See I am a human so it does affect me when people troll. But I don't take it to my heart because life me bhot gaaliya pad chuki hain already. I really don't care anymore now that people are trolling me. I also took a digital detox this year. I am not even using social media much, I have hired people to manage my account. Ever since I stepped out of the house, people have only been trolling me. If there's something new, let me know. If someone is actually praising me, then tell me that!"
She also weighed in on the ongoing debate about influencers being cast in acting roles due to their follower count. 'To each its own," she says firmly. 'I mean, influencers are also working very hard. To create original content—I can't do that. Imagine, they are doing it, they are shooting it, they have their own team, and they are putting it on social media, and they are monetizing it. So why not? To each its own. If that is their destiny, then yeah, they should be given chances."
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As for her own journey with content creation, she admits her focus lies elsewhere, 'My craft is different. I don't resonate with creating any content, apart from stupid shairis which I write. That's my original content. Maybe in the future, I will read my own shayari and post it on social media. That will be my original content. And I don't intend to get monetised from it."
Still, she acknowledges that social media presence does matter in the casting world today: 'But yes, I can address this thing that people do check out your followers. But I have seen actors—I am not going to name them—they are not on social media, they don't have that kind of followers, but they are very big in this industry."
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