“I was a very naughty child. I would always climb onto tables, chairs, and sofas and jump off them,” she said
“We all face stress. I was really weak in Maths—still am! Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also mentioned in his book that we should always express our feelings instead of suppressing them. Journaling is a great way to do that,” Deepika told students.
She also stressed the need importance of friends and a community in helping deal with anxiety. “Parents have to understand that a child’s interest may lie in something else, and that is ok,” Deepika said.
The actor said that she started feeling free and light when she began talking about her feelings. “When dealing with exams too, expressing helps. Focus on things that are in your control. And talk to your parents or someone you trust if you feel stressed,” she said.
As part of the programme she conducted an activity where students wrote their strengths on pieces of paper and displayed them on a board
Earlier, PM Modi also shared the clip where Padukone discusses her student days on his official X handle.
“Among the most common topics #ExamWarriors want to discuss is mental health and wellbeing. Therefore, this year’s Pariksha Pe Charcha has an episode specially dedicated to this topic which will play today, 12th February. And we have @deepikapadukone, who is very passionate about this subject, talking about it,” he wrote on the microblogging site on Tuesday.
“Express, never suppress,” she told a gathering of kids on the latest episode of Pariksha Pe Charcha, which aired on Wednesday, February 12.
The Ministry of Education has shared a teaser of the latest episode in which Deepika opened up about the importance of mental health and student well-being, especially in these competitive times. She also highlighted how PM Narendra Modi’s book ‘Exam Warrior’ provides practical and effective tips to manage stress, overcome challenges and emerge stronger in life.
“Sometimes we get very stressed. PM Narendra Modi talks about an important thing in his book, Exam Warrior, i.e. ‘Express, never suppress’. So, always express yourself whether it is with your friends, family, parents, teachers or by journaling, which is a great way to express yourself,” she told students.
She also shared valuable insights and her personal experiences. “I just kept working, and one day I fainted, and after a few days, I realised that I was suffering from depression,” she added.
Deepika thanked PM Modi for “giving this platform to really come out as exam warriors and not worriers” and for students to give their best. “To do your best, take adequate rest,” she concluded.
In 2015, Deepika revealed that she was diagnosed with depression the year before. At an event in 2022, she recalled her battle with depression, saying she “felt suicidal at times.”
“There were days when I just didn’t want to wake up, I would sleep because sleep for me was an escape, I was suicidal at times. I give all the credit to my mother for recognizing the signs and symptoms because it just happened out of the blue,” she added.
The second episode of this inspiring conversation will be aired on February 12, 2025, at 10 am.
In an X post, the Ministry of Education wrote, “Get ready for the much-awaited second episode of #ParikshaPeCharcha2025 featuring none other than @deepikapadukone!”
Get ready for the much-awaited second episode of #ParikshaPeCharcha2025 featuring none other than@deepikapadukone !
In this engaging session, she opens up about the importance of mental health and student well-being, sharing valuable insights and personal experiences. She… pic.twitter.com/wzyJtW4PVc— Ministry of Education (@EduMinOfIndia) February 11, 2025
The eighth edition of Pariksha Pe Charcha is underway, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke in the first episode on Monday, February 10, at Sunder Nursery, New Delhi.
The Prime Minister interacted with board exam students, their parents and teachers. This year’s edition has several episodes with experts guiding students through various challenges.
Among other notable figures from Bollywood, Vikrant Massey and Bhumi Pednekar will take part in Pariksha Pe Charcha to help students have a positive mindset and develop creativity in their academic pursuits.
For the sports and discipline episode, Mary Kom, Avani Lekhara and Suhas Yathiraj will discuss goal setting, resilience and stress management through discipline.
For mindfulness and mental peace, Sadhguru will introduce practical mindfulness techniques for mental clarity and focus. Other renowned personalities from diverse fields will guide students on essential aspects of life and learning.
On Monday, Modi shared the interaction video on X, writing, “Had a wonderful interaction with young students on different aspects of stress-free exams. Do watch Pariksha Pe Charcha. #PPC2025.”
Had a wonderful interaction with young students on different aspects of stress-free exams. Do watch Pariksha Pe Charcha. #PPC2025. https://t.co/WE6Y0GCmm7
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 10, 2025
This year, the event has recorded over five crore registrations, making it one of the most engaging student interactions across India.
