Neetu Kapoor on therapy after Rishi Kapoor's death: 'It felt like nonsense'
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Veteran actress Neetu Kapoor has spoken candidly about her views on therapy, saying she personally does not believe in it and found far greater comfort in close friendships and work while grieving the loss of her husband, Rishi Kapoor. Her remarks, made on Soha Ali Khan's podcast All About Her, have drawn attention given India's evolving mental health conversation.
What Neetu Kapoor Said
Neetu stated that she places far more value in trusted friendships than in professional therapy. "I don't believe in therapists, honestly. I believe in friends. You should have four or five close friends with whom you can really talk things out," she said.
Recalling the deeply difficult period following Rishi Kapoor's passing in April 2020, she added, "When Rishi passed away, people told me to go to a therapist. I was very low and I did speak to one, but I kept asking myself, 'What am I doing here?' Till I am not mentally strong myself, what can therapy do? They tell you to meditate, count numbers, do this and that... for me, it felt like nonsense. You have to give yourself time. You have to decide when you want to become strong and move on."
Friendship, Family, and Work as Pillars
Neetu emphasised that while everyone's path to healing is different, for her, friendship, family, and work served as the strongest pillars of support during one of the most challenging phases of her life. She noted that having people one can genuinely confide in is, in her view, more restorative than structured therapy sessions.
This comes amid a broader national conversation in India around mental health awareness, where therapy and professional counselling have gained increasing mainstream acceptance — making Neetu's candid counter-perspective particularly notable.
Rishi Kapoor's Passing
Rishi Kapoor, one of Bollywood's most celebrated actors, passed away in April 2020 after a prolonged battle with cancer. His death was a profound loss for the Kapoor family and the Hindi film industry at large. Neetu and Rishi had been married for over four decades.
On the Professional Front
Neetu has been receiving positive reviews for her performance in her latest release Daadi Ki Shaadi, which also stars Kapil Sharma and Riddhima Kapoor Sahni. The film marks a significant return to the screen for the actress, who has spoken about how professional engagement helped her cope with personal grief. Her remarks are likely to spark wider debate as mental health professionals continue to encourage open conversations around seeking help.