Actor Arjun Kapoor feels decisions by global sporting stars, such as Naomi Osaka, Simone Biles, and Ben Stokes to prioritize their mental health and well-being has initiated a necessary conversation for today’s generation.
“We have to encourage and laud people who come out to tell their story. We live in an era where we are constantly being watched and monitored. It is not easy to not have any down time. So, when people like Naomi Osaka, Simone Biles, and Ben Stokes speak up, we have to listen patiently because what they are going through is reflective of what our generation is feeling.”
Arjun has tackled mental health issues while fighting obesity in his formative years and being brutally shamed for the same, has experienced being dismissed by people who called him fat. He said he is grateful to these sporting stars for paving the way for this generation to look after themselves and be caring to one another.
Arjun said, “These guys are all legends who successfully deal with immense pressure every single day and if they are sparking a conversation to prioritise mental health, we should listen very, very carefully. When I was battling obesity, it was brushed aside as I’m just a fat guy who is privileged and he must be eating and having a good time. No one bothered about what I was going through mentally.”
He feels that it is important to normalize these important questions in society so that the youth of the country knows that it is absolutely okay to not be okay. “These are very important conversations that people must have with their families and friends. We must normalize these conversations in society. In a digital world, we are being pushed to be constantly on. We are surrounded by cameras and we have to put up the best things for likes and comments. We hardly have time to connect with ourselves and our close ones without the presence of our phones. Plus, now, we have the pandemic which has made us all too boxed up.”
