Alia Bhatt, Shilpa Shetty, and Esha Deol: Actresses Who Opened Up About Postpartum Depression

Motherhood is often celebrated as one of the most beautiful chapters in a woman's life—but behind the glowing smiles and picture-perfect moments lies a world of physical changes, emotional upheavals, and silent struggles that many hesitate to talk about. In the spotlight-driven world of Bollywood, where appearances are everything, opening up about the raw and real side of postpartum life takes courage. Shilpa Shetty, Mandira Bedi, Soha Ali Khan, Esha Deol, and Sameera Reddy are among the few who have chosen to break the silence and speak openly about the less glamorous side of motherhood. Let’s have a look at their postpartum journeys and revelations.

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Actress Shilpa Shetty once talked about her postpartum depression and how hard it is to embrace motherhood at the age of 45. Shilpa candidly addressed this reality in an old interview with the Mumbai Mirror. Reflecting on her journey of welcoming her second child at the age of 45, Shilpa admitted that embracing motherhood at this stage was far from easy. "It feels surreal when people ask me how my ‘children’ are doing. At 45, to have a newborn, takes guts," she shared, emphasising the emotional weight and courage involved in taking this step. She went on to explain that her experience of motherhood had been significantly different this time. Describing the early days, Shilpa said, "The first time around, you are breastfeeding and tired all the time. You feel like a cow." The actress also bravely spoke about the mental toll she faced post-delivery. "I also went through postpartum depression, though I bounced out of it in about two weeks," she revealed.

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Mandira and her husband Raj Kaushal welcomed their son Veer in 2011, and they adopted their daughter Tara in 2020. However, Raj passed away in 2021. The actress opened up about facing postpartum depression and being completely unaware of such a stage. “Nobody had told me about postpartum depression. I had the baby, and at that point, I was not feeling very connected to him. The moment I would come back home, I would just be crying, and my doctors told me that hormones are all over the place and it happens,” she told Humans of Bombay. She shared that she had put on 22 kgs during her pregnancy and did not feel like herself in her body after her son's arrival.

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After embracing motherhood with the birth of her daughter Raha in November 2022, Alia Bhatt has been vocal about the emotional and mental shifts that followed. The actress also opened up about her personal growth and the steps she has taken to prioritise her mental health. In a heartfelt interaction with Mojo, Alia revealed that she attends therapy once a week. She spoke honestly about her ongoing concerns related to her appearance and relationship with food. “That’s a struggle that’s been constant,” she admitted, reflecting on the pressures of body image and societal expectations.

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Esha Deol has openly shared a very personal chapter of her journey as a mum. In a candid chat on Mama Says, a YouTube show hosted by her close friend Simone Khambatta, Esha reflected on the emotional rollercoaster she experienced after giving birth to her daughters, Radhya and Miraya Takhtani. While her first postpartum experience was smooth, things were unexpectedly different after the birth of her second child. Recounting the change, Esha said, “When I had Radhya, there was no postpartum depression, nothing. People used to look at me and ask ‘Tu theek hai na?’ And I used to wonder why they were asking like this. I mean, yeah, I’m fine.” However, the arrival of her second daughter brought unfamiliar emotions. She revealed, “But after my second delivery, I didn’t know what it was. I hadn’t experienced it, so I didn’t know. And right after delivery, I didn’t know what was going on as I was in a room filled with people, and suddenly, I felt like crying. I sat quietly, very dull and low. And I’ve given birth to a beautiful baby girl again, and it’s a very happy moment in my life, but I didn’t know what was going on.”

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Actress Sameera Reddy has candidly shared her struggle with postpartum depression following the birth of her first child, Hans, in 2015. Despite becoming a mother for the first time, Sameera admitted she was unaware of postpartum stress and found it extremely challenging to cope. She confessed that she couldn't feel truly happy during those initial days, despite trying her best. Reflecting on that phase, Sameera posted a collage on Instagram featuring two throwback photos. One of the images showed her holding her newborn son during a ritual, with a coconut placed on her head — a symbol of traditional customs amidst a period of emotional struggle. Sameera and her husband Akshai Varde later welcomed their second child, daughter Nyra, in 2019. “Even though mental illnesses can’t be seen, they exist. Mental health awareness refers to a wide range of mental health conditions — disorders that affect your mood, thinking, and behaviour, such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PPD, etc. For me, postpartum stress was hard, and I did not act fast enough because I was unaware it existed. The pics I shared in this post were me at my lowest. I couldn’t feel happy, however hard I tried, after the birth of my first child. I still reflect on these moments, and it only drives me harder to reach out to anyone not feeling good about themselves. You are not alone. And being there for each other in tough times is so important. What can we do to help ourselves & others? Take care of yourself and be aware of your emotional health,” she wrote.

Pic: Twitter