Imran Khan says he suffered from depression, was at his ‘weakest’ after his divorce from his wife Avantika Malik: ‘I couldn’t even get myself out of bed’

With #LautAaoImran making waves across social media, actor Imran Khan is generating significant buzz despite his hiatus from the film industry. Imran, who stormed onto the Bollywood scene with Jaane Tu.Ya Jaane Na and was last seen in Katti Batti in 2015, is captivating audiences with his unfiltered and honest interviews. In these candid conversations, he openly discusses his struggles with failure, his battle with depression, his separation from his wife Avantika Malik, and his devotion to his daughter, revealing vulnerable insights into some of his darkest moments. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Imran Khan (@imrankhan) Reflecting on his lowest point in 2019 during an interview with Humans of Bombay, Imran confessed, “When I separated in 2019, I was at my weakest — emotionally and psychologically. Soon after, the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown hit. I’d say, I would describe it as a husk of a human being. I was close to nothingness. Brushing my teeth and taking a shower was a monumental task. I didn’t know if I could do that. I couldn’t even get myself out of bed, I would stay in my pyjamas, turn the doorbell off, lock the door and just vegetate.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Imran Khan (@imrankhan) Despite his struggles with mental health and his inability to perform basic daily tasks, Imran emphasised his commitment to parenting during his custody days with his daughter, who was his anchor during those dark times. “I did have parental duties, we split custody, so Thursdays to Sundays, my daughter would be with me, said Imran, adding, “It was my duty and my purpose and I decided that I didn’t want a nanny. I had to be for my daughter. So on the days that she was with me, it didn’t matter how weak I felt, whatever it is, you have to get out there. You will get out of bed, put on your clothes and drop her off at school and be there to pick her up. She can’t feed herself and take care of herself. I set myself these tasks as non-negotiable. These became anchor points and became the reason to get up,” he revealed. The actor revealed that his daughter became his “anchor” who helped him come out of the phase. “I said to myself that ‘I’m not okay and the version of myself was an inadequate parent and not the parent that I wanted to be. I wanted to be more and better,” he said. Imran disclosed that he only began to feel better last year. Imran and Avantika tied the knot in 2011. Their marriage came to an end in 2019 due to irreconcilable differences. In an interview with India Today, Imran disclosed that his struggle with depression contributed to the breakdown of his marriage. “Without delving too deeply into it, because I’m wary of adding fuel to the gossip fire, I realised that amidst my internal battles, my marriage wasn’t providing the support I needed,” he admitted. However, Imran has emerged from this tumultuous period. In March of this year, he confirmed his relationship with Lekha Washington to Vogue, stating, “The speculation about my romantic involvement with Lekha Washington is accurate. I’ve been divorced and separated since February 2019.”