Janhvi Kapoor Opens Up on Post-Dhadak Depression, Says ‘I Thought People Hated Me’
Janhvi Kapoor has revealed that her Bollywood debut was far more emotionally challenging than it appeared publicly.
Her first film Dhadak released shortly after the death of her mother Sridevi.
Despite the film’s commercial success, the actor says she struggled with depression and self-doubt.
Speaking on a podcast hosted by Raj Shamani, Janhvi Kapoor reflected on her mental state following her debut. While audiences and industry insiders praised her performance, she said her personal experience was deeply negative.
She revealed that instead of celebrating the film’s success, she became fixated on criticism and internalised it.
Janhvi shared that she convinced herself audiences disliked her performance. “I thought… people hate me,” she said, adding that she felt her journey had already ended after her first film.
She also admitted that she ignored the film’s achievements, including its strong box office performance of over ₹110 crore. Instead, she focused entirely on negative feedback, which shaped her perception of reality.
“I just knew that I sucked and people hated me… because I only looked at the negative,” she said during the conversation.
Dhadak, directed by Shashank Khaitan and produced by Karan Johar, was a remake of the Marathi hit Sairat.
The film marked Janhvi Kapoor’s debut opposite Ishaan Khatter and was considered one of the most successful launches for newcomers at the time.
However, the emotional context surrounding the release, especially the loss of her mother, significantly affected her mental well-being.
Janhvi Kapoor’s candid revelation highlights the often-unseen emotional pressures faced by newcomers in the film industry. The gap between public perception and personal experience can be stark, especially when actors are dealing with personal loss and professional expectations simultaneously.
Her story also reflects how selective attention to criticism can impact mental health, even in the face of success.
Our Final Thoughts
Janhvi Kapoor’s honesty offers an important reminder that success does not always translate into happiness. Behind the glamour of Bollywood debuts lies intense pressure, vulnerability, and personal battles that often go unnoticed. Her experience sheds light on the importance of mental health awareness, especially for young actors navigating fame for the first time. It also underscores how grief, combined with public scrutiny, can amplify self-doubt. As she continues to grow in her career, this phase stands as a defining moment that shaped her resilience. Conversations like these help normalise mental health struggles in the entertainment industry and encourage a more empathetic understanding of public figures.
