Throwback: When Alia Bhatt talked about weekly therapy and mental health after becoming a mother

Bollywood star Alia Bhatt has always been open about her personal life, including her mental health. After becoming a mother in 2022, she spoke about her experience with therapy and the importance of looking after her mental health.

In an old interview with Vogue India, Alia shared her journey through motherhood and how it affected her mental health.After giving birth to her daughter Raha in November 2022, she started attending therapy sessions to help her manage the challenges of being a new mom. Alia described this journey as an “ever-evolving, ever-growing process” and talked about dealing with the “healthy amount of mom guilt” that many new mothers face.
“I’m always wondering what people are thinking. Do they actually think I’m managing well, or are they only saying it to make me feel better? Even if there isn’t judgment, you can be very critical of yourself. But I work hard on my mental health — I go to therapy every week where I voice these fears. It helps me understand that this is not something I will figure out in a day or even ten days; it’s a continuous process. You have to rebuild yourself every day. There’s no such thing as having it all together or having all the answers. No one has all the answers,” Alia shared.
In another interview with journalist Barkha Dutt on Mojo, Alia talked more about how her weekly therapy sessions give her a space to express her fears and accept that there is no definitive guide to parenting. She stressed the importance of being able to "pick up the pieces of yourself and build anew every day."

Alia also discussed her long-standing struggle with body image issues. The pressure to maintain a certain image in her profession has been immense. She sought therapy during the lockdown to take care of her mental well-being. This helped her become more aware of her anxieties about weight and work on them in a healthier way.
“That’s a constant struggle. Everyone around me could see it, but I didn’t see it,” said Alia. She added, “I started therapy as a way to take care of my mind, just like going to the gym to take care of my body. During the lockdown, when everyone was having a hard time, I thought it would be a good time to start. What I discovered through those sessions is that I have many issues with my weight because I’m always in front of the camera.”