'Focus on things you can control': Bollywood star Deepika Padukone to students dealing with exam stress
The Om Shanti Om actress has been open about her journey tackling anxiety and depression. In 2014, she founded the LiveLoveLaugh (LLL) foundation, which helps in creating awareness about mental health, reduces the stigma associated with mental illness, and provides credible mental health resources for the needy.
During an interaction with students on the programme, Padukone told students: "Focus on the things you can control like, 'Am I prepared or not', that's in my control. Feeling stressed the night before? Talk to your parents about it. Talk to your teachers. Identifying the cause of stress and expressing it to somebody you trust. That could be one of the ways of dealing with stress. If I'm meditating or doing exercise. That's in my control."
The actor also recalled her early school days and shared her affinity for extracurricular activities and sports events in school.
"I was a very naughty child. I was always interested in extra-curricular activities... I used to get very excited for fashion, dance and sports day... I am fortunate that my parents didn't pressurise me for good marks... I want to tell the parents that they should recognise their child's potential." said Padukone.
The actor also shared her success mantra with students.
"One is clarity on what you want to do in life. Second, to have that conviction, that I am capable of doing this. I can do it. Will I fail along the way? Will I make mistakes? 100 per cent I will, it's not going to be smooth sailing. And most importantly, have fun," she said.
Advocating mental health through the Pariksha Pe Charcha platform, the actor shared tips for a stress-free life.
"First of all adequate sleep. Sleep is a superpower which is available free of cost. I think sleep is a part of good mental health. Adequate sunlight, going out to get some fresh air. To get some daylight can help with your mental health. Always reach out for help," she said.
She called stress a 'natural' part of life while addressing the exam pressure on students. She asked the students to practice patience regarding the exams and results.
She said, "We can only do what is in our control, we can sleep well, hydrate well, exercise and meditate..."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
What's On
a day ago
- What's On
11 homegrown brands to shop instead of international luxury labels
There's no shopping like shopping in Dubai. You get all the international luxury labels and beyond in the many malls available here, as well as numerous online websites delivering from around the world, but what if we told, you don't need to look that far. We have incredible luxury labels right here on our doorstep, offering the very best of the fashion world. This list of homegrown brands swaps will take you through an entire outfit – from the dress to the accessories. The dress… Reemami Launched by Reema Al Banna in 2009, Reemami is a homegrown hero championing all forms of dopamine dressing – bright prints, playful colours, whimsical design and big, bold silhouettes for days. Reemami collections come in beautiful unique shapes and flowy designs. @reemamiofficial …and That's My Gal Shop That's My Gal, a homegrown label that celebrates bold prints, joyful hues, and resort-ready silhouettes, all with a distinctly Indian flair. Founded by expat Pia in 2022, the brand offers breezy dresses, kaftans, co-ord sets, and beach-ready accessories. Expect free-flowing fabrics, thoughtful handwork, and pieces designed for sun-drenched style and carefree days. @thatsmy_gal Ahlam Shahin Emirati designer Ahlam Shahin's namesake label offers flowy, frilly, feminine silhouettes, with drama and flair. Rooted in traditional local fashion, the pieces are perfect for special occasions, incorporating the art of fall, fabric and embellishment into their designs – perfect for your next big party. It's a beautiful blend of local and international taste. @ahlamshahinatelier My Fancy Closet Founded by Bashayer Al Mahmoud, this Emirati brand is dedicated to reimagining the romance of vintage elegance for the modern era. Founded in 2013, the brand brings those big, bold silhouettes, flowy and romantic, with lots of fabric, detailing and inspiration taken from traditional local fashion. If you're looking for your occasion wear find, this is where you need to look. Bonus: it's great for the modest girlies too. @my_fancy_closet The shoes… ZAIA Emirati footwear brand ZAIA is all about quiet luxury, effortless design and all-day comfort. Featuring a line of stunning, classic loafers in a variety of colours, this is your swap for the wildly popular Loro Piano loafers that still have the luxury fashion community in a chokehold. Pick from beautiful shades, neutrals to brights and more combinations. Dhs1,450, @zaiadubai The bag… Okhtein Founded by Egyptian sisters Aya and Mounaz Abdel Raouf, Okhtein is known for its bold glamour, artisanal craftsmanship and unmistakable silhouettes. Each bag is a statement piece that blends heritage and high fashion – from sculptural shapes and metallic accents to their newly launched woven summer collection. Designed to elevate evening wear, these are accessories with a story, rooted in culture and made to stand out. @okhtein Odeem Emirati brand Odeem is all about leather craftsmanship, bringing leather bags in iconic, timeless designs, meant to be keepsakes for life. Founded by Fatma Al Otaiba in 2019, the brand is deeply passionate about putting only the best product on your arm. Swap the ever-popular Hermès Picotin for an Odeem design – homegrown, made on this land with love. But not just for this one design – if you're looking for quality leather craft, then Odeem is the one for you. @odeem_official Nuaimi Collective Huda Al Nuaimi is the brains behind this luxury print and product design label. With several gorgeous fabrics to choose from, anyone can purchase these designs and utilise it for your own personalised creation. Whether you want a bag, dress, shirt or scarf made, your item will be totally unique. @nuaimi_collective The accessories… Toktam In a world full of trends, how does one stand out? You take the trend and make it your own, and Toktam will help you do just that. Wrist stacks have been made insanely popular by brands like Cartier and Tiffany – everyone seems to have a Juste Un Clou or Tiffany T bangle. Homegrown brand Toktam's bangles are perfect for stacking, but making it your own. Fine jewellery designer Toktam Shekarriz blends her Persian heritage with Arabic influences in these stunning pieces. @ Zei Jewels Same vibe, but elevated. The novelty of Zei Jewels is that the pieces come with a fine skeleton and interchangeable back plates in different materials. One piece, endless versatility. You'll find the same colours and pearlescent finish that is so recognisable with Van Cleef and the Alhambra collection, with a bit more bling. Inspired by all things land, sea and nature, this brand has a collection for every mood. @ Karen Wazen Eyewear Founded by influencer and entrepreneur Karen Wazen Bakhazi, this eyewear brand has gone global, but remains true to it's homegrown roots. Offering sleek and extremely on-trend pieces for every outfit and mood, reach for this brand instead of the viral Miu Miu skinny glasses that practically everyone was wearing last year. Besides this, they also have a load of other designs to choose from. @bykarenwazen Images: Socials
Gulf Today
a day ago
- Gulf Today
Indian brothers marry same woman in ancient custom
A pair of brothers in rural India have married the same woman, upholding an ancient custom and sparking criticism from a women's rights group after photos of the wedding went viral. Polyandry is banned in India but is legal in some of the tribal pockets, including Himalayan territories, allowing preservation of some ancient traditions. The grooms, Pradeep and Kapil Negi, married Sunita Chauhan in a three-day wedding witnessed by hundreds of villagers and relatives on July 12 in the Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh. During the ceremony, the trio from the Hatti tribe circled a fire considered sacred as villagers sang folksongs. "We followed the tradition publicly as we are proud of it and it was a joint decision," Pradeep said, according to the Press Trust of India news agency. His brother Kapil added: "We're ensuring support, stability and love for our wife as a united family." One of the brothers is a government employee and the other works overseas. Under the custom, the wife shifts between brothers on a mutually agreed schedule and the family raises the children together. The eldest brother is named the legal father. The All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA), a women's rights group, condemned the wedding. "Such acts of women's exploitation... go against the fundamental rights of a woman," AIDWA general secretary Mariam Dhawale told local media. Around 300,000 members of the Hatti tribe live in small villages in the remote Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh. Local lawmaker Harshwardhan Singh Chauhan defended the practice, saying polyandry has long been a tradition of the Sirmaur people. "We have a customary law to protect polyandry," he told reporters, after photos of the marriage went viral on social media. Kundal Lal Shashtri, a local Hatti leader, justified the custom by citing the ancient Indian epic Mahabharata, in which the character Draupadi married five brothers. Agence France-Presse
Gulf Today
a day ago
- Gulf Today
Bollywood star Alia Bhatt shares glimpses of her lovely London vacation
Bollywood star Alia Bhatt shared a sneak-peek into her London holiday, where she enjoyed the clouds, some puzzles and a burger. Alia took to her Instagram stories, where she shared a photo collage. The collage featured pictures of the cloud, puzzles she solves with daughter Raha and a holiday treat — burgers, the actress gorged on. For the caption, the actress simply wrote: 'Good Vibes Only' along with a cloud, puzzle and burger emoji. On the professional front, the actress will next be seen in 'Alpha' along with Sharvari. The two will be seen playing super agents. The film is directed by Shiv Rawail and will release in the big Christmas Holiday weekend of 2025. 'Alpha' will mark the seventh film in Yash Raj Films' expansive spy universe. This universe began with the 'Tiger' franchise, starring Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif, starting with 'Ek Tha Tiger' and followed by 'Tiger Zinda Hai.' The saga continued with 'War,' 'Pathaan,' and 'Tiger 3.' Upcoming films in the franchise include 'War 2,' directed by Ayan Mukerji, 'Pathaan 2,' and 'Tiger vs. Pathaan.' In other news, Alia's 'Difficult Daughters' among others was announced by Busan International Film Festival (BIFF). The line-up includes 'Difficult Daughters,' directed by Soni Razdan, which is being produced by Alia Bhatt and her sister Shaheen Bhatt, along with veteran Indian indie producer Alan McAlex (Santosh). As per Kani Kusruti, who starred in Cannes Palme d'Or winning film 'All We Imagine As Light,' is teaming with the director of that film, Payal Kapadia, to produce 'The Last Of Them Plagues,' directed by Kunjila Mascillamani. Kusruti attended BIFF last year as a jury member for the New Currents competition. The line-up also includes several other filmmakers with ties to BIFF, including Indian director Pradip Kurbah, recipient of the 2019 Jiseok Award, with new project Moon; Bangladeshi filmmaker Biplob Sarkar, previously invited to BIFF New Currents and returning with 'The Magical Men.' It also includes Malaysia's Lau Kok Rui from the BIFF 2022 Asian Film Academy, who is presenting Wake Me up When the Mourning Ends, with Soi Cheang, Stefano Centini and Wong Kew Soon on board as producers, reports The line-up also features five Chinese-language projects, with three from Taiwan focusing on female protagonists. Japan is represented by three projects from established directors Shiraishi Kazuya, Fujita Naoya and Zhang Yaoyuan, with stories revolving around the realities of foreign laborers, a reclusive woman's struggle for identity, and a multifaceted view of what Japanese youth face today. Meanwhile, Alia lavished praise on debutant Ahaan Panday, actress Aneet Padda and Mohit Suri after their recently released film 'Saiyaara' opened to a great response. Alia took to her Instagram, and shared a picture of Ahaan, Aneet and Mohit Suri. Mohit and Alia are first cousins. Mohit's mother, Heena, is the sister of Mahesh Bhatt, who is Alia's father. Mohit is a generation older than Alia. While Mohit's directorial debut 'Zeher' was released in 2005, Alia made her Bollywood debut in 2012 with 'Student of the Year'. Indo-Asian News Service
