Pakistani celebrities are discussing mental health: a shift on our screens | The Express Tribune
For years, mental health in Pakistan was a topic whispered about in private or swept under the rug. Celebrities—particularly women—expected to radiate composure and grace, no matter the personal cost. The closest glimpse audiences received of vulnerability was a vague “stress tha” or “tough time”. Today, the narrative is shifting —for both men and women. Across different platforms, such as podcasts and Instagram posts, Pakistani 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 of the moms out there. 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 —“mai ikso marna chahti hou”, which left her feeling guilty and isolated.
Her husband recognised the conditions as postpartum depression and supported her through it. For a society like Pakistan that glorifies maternal sacrifice, naming it was for the mental illnesses it causes was a big change in the media.
Similarly, Mahira Khan, in a resurfaced podcast with Frieha Altaf, spoke about her long-term struggle with taking antidepressants. She disclosed that she has been on medication for six to seven years and that stopping them prematurely plunged her into a “very, very dark hole”.
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Beyond prayers or friends, something was just not ok. She wanted to normalise that medication should feel more like a treatment rather than a sign of weakness.
Nausheen Shah, another Pakistani actress, has also had experiences of panic attacks while filming on set for her drama. Uncontrollable shivering and severe anxiety left her feeling “like a zombie,” making her question whether she would ever feel normal again.
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Meanwhile, Saba Qamar revealed that years of internalized stress manifested physically in a heart attack she had this past year, “Jo aap andar store kar rahe ho, wo aik din anxiety ki form mein aa jaayega”.
The conversation isn’t limited to women. Actor Shehryar Munawar has encouraged men to seek therapy as well, stating that “sometimes things can be very overwhelming… it's ok to ask for help”.
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He framed therapy as a process rather than a one-time fix, comparing it to a shopping spree. “The first pair of jeans is not going to fit”, he explained. Muanwar challenges the long-standing expectation that men must always remain stoic.
Appearing on Gup Shup with Fuchsia, Mawra Hocane—an actress who recently married her co-star Ameer Gilani—is spreading awareness about misconceptions surrounding marriage and mental health. She wants to challenge the notion that a romantic partner can 'complete' her." Instead, she says, “A happy marriage is a cherry on top”, emphasising that self-worth and mental health are personal responsibilities.
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Instagram reels, TikTok, and YouTube are also amplifying this new honesty. Reham Rafiq, a dancer and content creator, has posted from hospital rooms to spread awareness for caregivers and families, dealing with mental health struggles.
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Her content highlights anxiety. Depression and ADHD demonstrate that awareness no longer needs to pass through traditional media. By sharing her everyday struggles, her fans and those struggling alone find something to relate to.
The conversation is evolving and it’s clear: mental health is finally receiving the attention and language it deserves. New Pakistani dramas, including Case No.9 and Kafeel, are challenging norms around sensitive issues such as depression, panic attacks, suicide, sexual harassment, and abusive households.
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