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The former All India Bakchod CEO took to Instagram to share how the #MeToo controversy has taken a toll on his mental and physical health.
Mumbai-based comedian Tanmay Bhat who rose to fame with comedy collective All India Bakchod is the latest victim of clinical depression.
The young artist and entrepreneur was suspended from his position as CEO of the company last October following complaints of not acting against sexual harassment allegations made regarding his colleague Utsav Chakraborty.
In May 2019, AIB had issued a statement announcing that Bhat would no longer be their CEO.
On Sunday, Bhat took to Instagram and uploaded a series of videos sharing how the events after his suspension took a toll on his physical and mental health.
'I'm a bit of a mess. I don't know when I'll stop being a bit of a mess. But when I'm less of a mess, I will owe it to everybody who has written in being supportive. Especially those who've seen this mess up close. You know who you are,' Bhat captioned his video (external link).
'After everything that happened in October, I'm mentally checked out,' he says in the 4 minute long video, shared in four parts.
'I feel almost paralysed and unable to participate socially, online or even offline. I think a big part of my self worth growing up as someone who looked like me became my work. For most of my adult life I worked at a company that I was trying to build.'
'And having to watch the letting the office go, all the people who worked with us, having to say good bye to that took a toll on me mentally and physically which finally came to a headway around the end of the last year and doctors told me that I am suffering from clinical depression and told me to consider doing something about it.'
The post received a lot of encouragement from artists and friends from the fraternity. It has been liked by over 55,000 people on Instagram.
Singer composer Vishal Dadlani was among the first few ones to extend his support to the young artist.
'No rush, no pressure, take all the time you need to figure it out, but know that there is a world of love for you out there,' Dadlani wrote.
Fellow comedienne Kaneez Surka also joined in saying: 'You are so loved jaan - you don't even realise how much.'
While Bhat is already thankful for all the love and kindness, he also confessed that it might be a while since he recovers fully.
Dear readers, have you also suffered from clinical depression like Tanmay Bhat?
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Did you manage to find a solution?
Please share your learnings, advice and coping mechanisms with us.
Who knows, your story and advice may help save someone's life.
Simply write in to getahead@rediff.co.in (How I survived depression) along with your NAME, AGE, LOCATION and a photograph of you, if possible. We'll feature the best responses right here on Rediff.com.
