Shama Sikander Opens Up About Battle With Depression, Says Took Break from TV to Prioritise Mental Health

Shama Sikander, who was well-known for her roles on the silver screen, stepped away from TV screens at the height of her career. It has now been a long time since the actress appeared in any series. Recently, in an interview, Shama opened up about the reason behind her decision. She revealed that she was going through depression and shared that her parents supported her during that difficult time.
In a conversation with Pinkvilla, Shama admitted that she felt “burnt out” while working in the TV industry. She added that it took a huge toll on her mental health. “That’s the reason why I decided to leave. I had worked without a break for quite a long time, and it started to take a toll on my mental health. I started to feel uneasy and decided to stay indoors. I stopped going out and socializing. I was going through depression and even tried to commit suicide, but thankfully, my parents saved me just in time,” she said.
“Depression isn’t caused by just one reason. It arises from an amalgamation of various thoughts and factors. At that time, in the early 2000s, there wasn’t much awareness about mental health. My parents couldn’t fully understand why I wanted to stay home and was unproductive,” the actress added.
Shama shared that while her parents were “incredibly supportive,” it was the pressures of the showbiz industry that pushed her into a dark place.
“I feel the industry has a lot of unrealistic expectations from people. It requires you to become what they perceive, and slowly, you lose yourself in the darkness. When I felt the burnout, I gave up the stardom and the industry, and I took my own time to heal,” she said.
Shama Sikander has been part of various shows, such as Baal Veer, Ye Meri Life Hai, and Maaya: Slave of Her Desires, among others.