Shama Sikander ‘tried to Commit Suicide’ after quitting TV

In a candid interview, Shama Sikander opened up about her struggles with depression and how they led her to attempt suicide.

She explained that her mental health struggles began after she quit TV.

Reflecting on her experiences, she revealed the reason behind her sudden disappearance from the industry.

Shama said: “Burnt out. 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.”

It ultimately contributed to a depressive episode severe enough that she attempted to take her own life.

The actress disclosed: “I started to feel uneasy and I decided to stay indoors. I stopped going out and socialising.

“My parents weren’t able to gauge the reason for me wanting to be home and not being productive at all.

“I was going through depression and even tried to commit suicide but thankfully my parents saved me at the nick of the time.”

Discussing the pressures of the industry, Shama highlighted the unrealistic expectations placed on actors.

She explained: “I feel the industry has a lot of unrealistic expectations from people.

“It requires you to be what they perceive of you, and slowly and steadily, you lose yourself completely in the darkness.

“When I felt the burnout, I gave up the stardom and industry and took my own time for healing.”

Having previously identified as a people-pleaser, Shama Sikander acknowledged that this tendency further deepened her challenges.

“I used to be under constant pressure to be the perfect professional, perfect daughter, and perfect in all of my relationships.

“That took a toll on me as well. I had no boundaries.”

During the early 2000s, there was not a lot of awareness of depression.

Shama confessed: “My parents weren’t able to gauge the reason for me wanting to be home and not being productive at all.”

However, they did support her during the dark phase.

Now, Shama Sikander is committed to improving her overall well-being.

Shama, who made her OTT debut in Vikram Bhatt’s web series Maaya, expressed her enjoyment of this new medium.

She said: “I prefer OTT projects.

“While I love to act, I also love myself and my family. I don’t want to repeat the same mistake again by getting myself worked up.

“I want to enjoy my job and my life as well. I have certain boundaries in my professional life too.”