Zakir Khan announces a break from comedy; psychiatrist shares how stepping away can help mental health

Zakir Khan’s decision to step back has reignited an important conversation: taking a mental health break isn’t quitting—it’s protecting your future

• Zakir Khan to take a break from limelight until 2028 for health reasons
• Experts say mental health breaks boost productivity and career sustainability
• Planned breaks help professionals regain stability and set clear priorities

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Comedian Zakir Khan left his fans heartbroken as he revealed stepping away from the limelight for a few years. The announcement was made during his show Papa Yaar in Hyderabad, where he said, “I'm going on a long break, till 2028, 2029 or 2030 probably. I have to take care of my health and sort out a few other things.”

Many celebrities have taken a hiatus from their professional lives to prioritise mental health, which often takes a backseat due to back-to-back commitments. Dr Murali Krishna, Consultant – Psychiatry & Counselling Services at Aster RV Hospital, Bangalore, exclusively told Moneycontrol how such breaks can support long-term productivity, resilience, and sustainable success.

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Helps to strategise moves and reset career

Mental health breaks can be seen not only as personal recovery, but also as a strategic career capital. Dr Krishna said, “In the fast-evolving sectors, stress for a long time narrows the creativity and locks the employees in the survival mode. A break at the right time interrupts the cycle and allows the professionals to come back to the drawing board, think through their career paths, and make more conscious choices instead of automatic ones.”

Bring career back on track with renewed vigour

From a long-term perspective, taking mental health days can help sustain and support one’s career. Dr Krishan pointed out, “Stress that is not addressed often results in loss of interest, drop in performance, strained relationships at work or resignation under pressure.” However, when you take a planned break it gives you the opportunity to regain emotional stability and trust, and return with clearly defined professional boundaries and priorities.

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Builds self-awareness and flexibility

“Such interludes also build up one's flexibility. Distance from always having to meet deadlines allows one to think, learn and even re-skill the way one has been working, by reading, taking courses or simply observing one's patterns of work and stress. This self-awareness is what makes professionals better prepared to deal with the future's difficulties, moves and leadership positions,” Dr Murali noted.

Finally, Dr Krishna added that a long career is not only about endurance but also sustainability. Those who recognise their limits early are more likely to sustain high-quality work rather than experience burnout. She added, “Under such circumstances, a mental health break is not a failure to succeed, but rather a well-planned reset that has the power to protect one's ambition, clarify the road, and so on. Time will tell if one's growth will be consistent and meaningful.”