When actor Vijay Varma finally slowed down, his mind didn’t. What he assumed was routine exhaustion quickly spiralled into a period where he couldn’t get up from his couch for days. Speaking on Rhea Chakraborty’s podcast, the actor opened up for the first time about being diagnosed with severe depression and anxiety — and how movement, yoga and a small support circle helped him find his way back.
Vijay recalled living alone in his Mumbai apartment when the first signs surfaced. “I was all alone,” he said. "I had a small terrace where I could at least see the sky. Otherwise, I think I would’ve gone mad. Actually, I did", he added.
He described the moment things shifted, saying, "I couldn’t get up from my couch for four days. I kept thinking, what is happening to me? Why can’t I move?"
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Talking about the people who supported him through this phase, Vijay said, “At that time, Ira and Gulshan were like my little support system. Ira was assisting on Dahaad, and we had all become good friends during the shoot. We’d video call each other on Zoom, have dinners — that was our circle.”
He added that Ira was the first to sense something was wrong. "I kept deteriorating. She was the first to point it out. She said to me, ‘Vijay, I think you need to start moving a little bit.’ She would do Zoom workouts and make me work out with her. That really helped", he said.
Turning to therapy, yoga and routine
As things got worse, he finally reached out for professional help.
“Eventually, I spoke to a therapist on Zoom, and I was diagnosed with severe depression and anxiety. My therapist even suggested medication. I told her, ‘Let me try managing for now.’", he confessed.
Vijay said he started with movement and breath-led practices. "I did surya namaskars, yoga… anything that got me back into rhythm. Therapy helped. Talking helped.", he said.
Vijay’s journey highlights how mental health and physical health are deeply interlinked. Symptoms such as extreme fatigue, isolation, persistent fear or difficulty performing everyday tasks are early indicators that shouldn’t be dismissed.
Key lessons to note:
- Don’t ignore early signs. Sudden withdrawal, paralysis-like fatigue, fear or disconnection deserve attention.
- Move, even a little. A few stretches or sun salutations can shift mood by lowering stress hormones.
- Let people in. A small circle of compassionate friends can make a significant difference.
- Seek professional help early. Therapy is a strength, not a last resort.
- Mind–body practices matter. Yoga, breathwork and mindfulness improve emotional stability and physical health.
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