Filmmaker Vikram Bhatt recently praised Deepika Padukone for her openness about mental health and shared his own struggle with axial spondyloarthritis. He also revealed that

Samantha Prabhu

has been open about her condition, myositis, which is similar to his own. Vikram stressed that when celebrities talk about their health challenges, it encourages others to do the same, helping to reduce stigma and ease anxiety, especially among young people.
In an exclusive interview with Pinkvilla, filmmaker Vikram Bhatt spoke about the evolving conversation around mental health. He recalled how, in the past, discussing such struggles was considered taboo, stating, "You were not supposed to talk about mental health."
He praised Deepika Padukone for breaking the silence; he said, “One of the first persons to come out and talk about this was Deepika Padukone. Samantha Prabhu has a condition called myositis, which is very close to what I suffer from. She came out."

Emphasizing the importance of open conversations, Vikramt added, “It’s very important for people to come out with their mental diagnosis because it gives a lot of strength to youngsters and to people who are suffering from it and also keeping it quiet. When big idols like Deepika Padukone, Samantha, and all of them come out and talk about it, people are energized; they are, in a way, encouraged to talk about their problems as well. And that would stop so many teenage suicides and teenage anxiety. The greatest illness in today's youth is anxiety."
The filmmaker also noted that negative comparisons and social media criticism are increasing anxiety levels. “If I can lead a regular life despite all these. Make films, have fun, then why can’t everybody else?" he concluded.
Vikram Bhatt also disclosed that he has been battling axial spondyloarthritis, an autoimmune condition that causes bones to fuse and results in severe pain.
He further opened up about his long-term struggle with

depression

, admitting that it made him question his relationship with his wife, Shweta. He wondered why she would choose someone dealing with depression, but she reassured him that the decision wasn't solely his to make.