Kriti Sanon Opens Up on Mental Health and Acting’s Emotional Toll

• Kriti Sanon says intense roles can leave a subconscious emotional impact even after filming ends.
• She realised the importance of consciously switching off from characters after working on Mimi and Do Patti.
• Sanon says actors also have to separate personal emotions from their professional responsibilities.
• She recalled performing in comedies while dealing with difficult periods in her personal life.
• The actress recommends support systems such as meditation and therapy to maintain emotional balance.
• Sanon most recently appeared in Cocktail 2 alongside Shahid Kapoor and Rashmika Mandanna.

Kriti Sanon has opened up about the emotional demands of acting, saying performers need to consciously disconnect from their characters and prioritise their mental and emotional well-being. In an exclusive interview, the actress said her experiences with emotionally intense films including Mimi and Do Patti changed the way she understood the effect of her work on her personal life.

Sanon said she previously believed the characters she played did not affect her once she stepped away from a film. Her experience with the two films, however, made her reconsider that assumption.

“Before Mimi and Do Patti, I used to believe that the characters I played never affected me in real life. But those two films made me realise that, even if you think you’re unaffected, your characters always leave a subconscious impact,” she said.

Why Switching Off Matters

The actress explained that the impact of an intense role may not become apparent immediately. She said changes in how she feels or reacts can sometimes surface several days, or even a week, later.

“That’s when I understood how important it is to switch off from your character consciously,” Sanon said.

For actors, the process can involve repeatedly accessing difficult or heightened emotions while filming. Sanon believes that makes it particularly important to create a clear separation between the demands of a role and life away from the set.

She also highlighted the opposite challenge: remaining professionally focused when personal circumstances are difficult. Sanon recalled several occasions when she was emotionally low or dealing with problems in her personal life but still had to perform in a comedy.

“There have been many instances when I’ve been emotionally low or dealing with something difficult in my life, yet I’ve had to shoot for a comedy,” she said.

Kriti Sanon on Mental and Emotional Well-Being

Sanon said maintaining emotional balance should be treated as an important part of an actor’s professional life.

“As actors, we’re constantly tapping into and playing with our emotions, so I believe it’s essential to take care of your mental and emotional well-being,” she said.

She pointed to meditation, therapy and other forms of support as possible ways of maintaining that balance. Sanon said she meditates intermittently and finds the practice helpful.

Her comments add to a broader conversation about the psychological demands of performance, particularly when actors spend extended periods inhabiting emotionally demanding characters. For Sanon, recognising those effects has meant learning when to step away from the work and give herself space to reset.

Sanon won the National Film Award for Best Actress for Mimi, sharing the honour with Alia Bhatt at the 69th National Film Awards.

On the work front, Sanon was most recently seen in Cocktail 2, alongside Shahid Kapoor and Rashmika Mandanna.