Actor-Pageant Winner Darasing Khurana: ‘I Want Indian Families to Have Discussions About Mental Health at the Dinner Table’ (EXCLUSIVE)

A global figure, Darasing Khurana hobnobs with prime ministers, presidents, kings and queens. He was the second in the world to be appointed Commonwealth Year Of Youth Champion 2024. He has used his influence and clout to take up a diverse range of causes, from blood stem cell donation to mental health, and his efforts have been recognized by UNICEF and the Commonwealth of Nations. 

In an interview with Variety India, Darasing speaks about how philanthropy runs deep in his family and how his actor-presenter image supports his mental health advocacy. 

After the Mr. India win, you chose to champion several causes. How did that come about?

After I won Mr. India, the media wanted to know which causes I would want to support as a voice of the youth.  So, I started shortlisting a few causes.  Deepika Padukone, already a huge star, was talking about mental health and depression, and I thought my presence wouldn’t add much value to the cause.  At the time, I wanted to pick a cause that I felt connected to and one that needed attention. That is how I chose stem cell donation.  I learnt that with the right bone marrow match, people with thalassemia, leukaemia, blood cancer and 28 types of blood disorders could be completely cured. A wonderful cause, I thought. Then,  DATRI, India’s largest blood stem cell donors registry, appointed me as their brand ambassador. I have been their face for eight years now. Today, we are the world’s second-largest organization in this field. 

Your work on mental health advocacy began in earnest after your friend, actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s tragic and untimely demise…

Sushant and I would have great conversations about a lot of things. During one such conversation, he had said India needed affordable mental health care. I remember him saying our government doesn't understand the importance of mental health.  After his passing, we learnt about his battle with depression. This revelation shook the country, bringing mental health into the public discourse. People posted messages saying that they were there to lend an ear to those with mental health issues. I also did that, and many young people got in touch with me from far-flung corners of the country. I would chat with them, but when complex problems started pouring in, I knew it was time to get professional advice and expertise. Though this was easier said than done.  Each session with a therapist costs around Rs 2,500, and every person needs a minimum of around 10 sessions. Few people can afford that. Then one of my cousins connected me to her professor in the psychology department of a top institution in Bengaluru.

They walked me through the difference between clinical psychologists, psychiatrists and therapists.  We zeroed in on a fee of ₹200-250 as the ideal amount for an online consultation with a professional psychologist or therapist. Gradually, we had a team and a small organization.  Today, I am privileged to be advising some heads of government and the royalty across the globe on mental healthcare for young people. 

Many people, especially celebrities, in our country hesitate to seek professional help because of privacy and confidentiality issues. How do you work around this?

This is not just in India. In the entertainment space, specifically, mental health conversations are done in a very superficial manner.  I used to be a stylist, and after pack-up  Sushant would share his ideas with me. People never listened to him or his thoughts. We have forgotten to listen. If somebody is speaking, they need your attention, not your opinion. But people fail to understand that. It is one of the basics of mental health.

People also assume that those in public life love to have people around them 24x7. The truth is that when they come home, they want to be alone. Actors need a lot of time by themselves. That is what enhances their creativity, but people misunderstand this. People who work in the entertainment industry go through a lot every day, which people close to them fail to understand. The emotions keep piling up and can push someone into a very dark space.   

Tell us about some of your initiatives as a mental health advocate.

In my interactions with the Prime Minister of Singapore and the Royal Family of the United Kingdom, I have stressed on mental health in connection with the youth. I am also now the Commonwealth Global Youth Ambassador. I am trying to figure out how to involve experts who are not doctors or professionals to start safe conversations with people dealing with mental health conditions. How to motivate people to seek help without them feeling embarrassed. I want Indian families to have discussions about mental health at the dinner table. 

Do you feel social media has added to the mental woes of modern society?

In the next four years, we will pay for courses to learn how to take breaks from social media or how to stay away from the phone. And companies will charge us a big amount for that. It is important to keep children away from the screens.  We need campaigns to create awareness about this. I want such initiatives in Bollywood. I feel immensely joyful seeing the baby steps the government is taking to acknowledge mental health. Today, we have mental health insurance coverage. 

Has your career as a presenter and actor helped promote this cause?

I give a lot of credit to my public life. One of the reasons I could do so was because of my social media account, which has many followers. Since I am in the entertainment field, I could use my celebrity status to bring more attention to the topic. So, I will continue working on more entertainment projects. Maybe it's just optics, but you need to be seen to be heard. That’s the way it is. I need this backing and influence to further the cause and purpose I am here for.