New Delhi: The renowned Indian director Vidhu Vinod Chopra has made a devastating confession about a time in his life when he really considered ending his own life. In an emotional interview with NDTV, the director, known for classics like ‘Khamosh’ and ‘3 Idiots’, revealed his struggles with disappointment and mental illness after the release of his first feature film, ‘Sazaye Maut’.
Talking about the poor response to his first film ‘Sazaye Maut’, he said he had a hard time accepting it. “You know, there was a time when I wanted to kill myself. I was so disillusioned with life. I was standing in Lonavala on a highway, next to the trucks moving, and I could have taken a step and died. But it was my love for my family that held me back," Vidhu Vinod Chopra said, describing the painful moment when he was on the verge of suicide.
The director discussed how the mental and emotional strain of that time almost caused him to quit in his biography Unscripted, which also touches on this episode. In spite of the setback, he started working on ‘Khamosh’, his next project, which became one of his most well-known pieces and signalled a change in his career.
(Please do not hesitate to get in touch with the local mental health professional if you or someone you know is in need of help.)
Vidhu Vinod Chopra's 'Zero Se Restart'
'Zero Se Restart' was a concept that Vidhu Vinod Chopra chose to embrace while he was at his lowest point. The director stressed the importance of telling the public about his journey, saying, "People who know me now might be surprised that I even thought of such a thing, or went through this phase. But it is important to say it out loud that it is okay. You are not born this way. You fight your battles. Some you win, some you lose." He added, "The joy is not in the result, but in the fighting."
ALSO READ: Zero Se Restart Review: Story Behind Making Of 12th Fail Inspires And Motivates