Stress, exhaustion, and lack of personal time: Behind all the glitz and glamour, is Bollywood a victim of untimely burnout? | Hindi Movie News

Earlier this month, actor Vikrant Massey sent social media into a tizzy, when he cryptically announced that he is quitting acting for good, that is, until time feels right. He also added that the next year (2025), will see him act in two movies, post which there will be a long lull. His long post read, “Hello, The last few years and beyond have been phenomenal. I thank each and every one of you for your indelible support. But as I move forward, I realise it’s time to recalibrate and go back home. As a Husband, Father & a Son. And also as an Actor. So, coming 2025, we would meet each other for one last time. Until time deems right. Last 2 movies and many a years of memories. Thank you again. For everything and everything in between. Forever indebted.”

However, a couple of days later, the actor revealed that his statement was misconstrued, and he in fact, is only taking a long break, and not hanging up his boots for good. The ’12th Fail’ actor said in a statement “Acting is all I can do. And it has given me everything I have. My physical and mental health have taken a hit.
I just want to take some time off, want to better my craft. I feel a sense of monotony at the moment. My post has been misinterpreted. That I am quitting or retiring from acting. I want to take some time off to focus on my family and health. I would be back when the time feels right.”

Vikrant’s post, which in turn turned out to be simply a break, opened the door to a larger conversation on over exhaustion, stress and burnout in the industry, which despite the fun and frolic (read money and fame), also brings in acute stress, poor time management, and lack of personal time. Here’s navigating the high-pressure world behind the scintillating world of lights, camera, action…
It is okay to not be okay
Film-maker Sanjay Gupta lauded Vikrant for having the guts to take this decision. He wrote, “In 2008 Hansal Mehta left the film industry and Mumbai. Along with his family he shifted to a small village called Malawali in Lonavala. He recalibrated, reinvented himself and in 2012 came back with SHAHID his career best and has never looked back. 1/3”
He further continued, “Do you realize the guts it takes to do that? To walk away from it all inspite of having a family to look after and the possibility of never directing again? It takes guts, resilience and an insane amount of belief in yourself. 2/3”
He added, “In a way Vikrant Massey is doing the same. In these times of competition, insecurity, jealousy, rivalry it takes guts for an actor to take break and focus on his duties as a father, a husband and a son. He should be lauded not criticized. 3/3″
Stress taking a toll
Later on, in a conversation with RJ Rohini, Vikrant opened up about feeling physically and mentally drained from doing four films a year. He said that he had started repeating himself, which was not okay with him as an actor. Vikrant added that he wanted to keep his creative oil burning, something he was unable to do till now.
The actor spoke about his wife, Sheetal Thakur, and their son, Vardaan, who was born this year. He added that he hasn’t even gone on a honeymoon with his wife, having constantly been caught up in work. Now, with the arrival of his son, the actor feels this is the perfect opportunity to retract, rejuvenate and take a break to spend time with his family.
Talking about untimely burnout, Dr Harish Shetty, leading psychiatrist said, “Burnout happens when one is not mindful about one’s careers and slogs infinitely. Professionals who are effective plan their schedules with enough rest and joyous leisure, land up doing ecstatic work. For actors, the perception that they are under a million arc lights with a billion people gazing at them aggravates the situation….and burn out is hastened.”
Do actors have it worse?
Talking about actors in particular, Dr Shetty said, “Actors who work in double shifts and freshers, are more prone to psychological breakdowns. Many try to block or repair it by short term methods…. cannabis, alcohol, etc ….and fall from the frying pan to the fire….Actors who are insecure emotionally try to chew more than they can bite.”
He further added, “Burnout leads to flawed irrational relationships because of faulty judgements ….and that causes earlier burnouts.”

Industry to blame or individual strength?
A lot of talk has been going round that the cause of such mental and physical breakdown is the brutality of the industry, that does not give you a break. Actor Arjun Bijlani, a known face on TV and as a host, throws some light on the matter. He says, “The industry is definitely competitive. There’s always pressure to deliver your best, stay relevant, and meet expectations. But at the same time, I believe competition pushes you to grow and improve. Yes, it can be stressful, especially when you’re juggling multiple projects or waiting for the right opportunity, but it’s all part of the journey.”
When asked how actors per se handle stress, he says “Actors often find ways to channel their stress into something productive. For me, spending time with family, staying physically active, and practicing gratitude really helps. Many actors turn to meditation, yoga, or hobbies that allow them to disconnect and recharge. It’s important to maintain a balance. There have been moments when projects didn’t work out the way I hoped, or when I felt uncertain about the next step in my career. I believe what is written in my destiny will happen and things will fall in the right place. Patience is the key for everything,” he adds.
The veterans don’t agree
However, a certain section of actors in the industry believe that while taking breaks is okay, burnout as a concept is not something that they understand. Actor Ronit Roy, who has acted on both TV and movies says, “Unfortunately, I can only make an educated guess on the matter, since I do not understand the concept of burnout.”
He then went on to outline how hard he has worked to reach where he is now, and there are no shortcuts. He said, “I have clocked in almost 5200 hours of programming in 10 years, that is almost the same amount of work people do in 25-30 years.”

He however, was quick to add that he has learned through a different generation, and everyone’s struggles are different. “Someone might want to concentrate on family affairs, someone might want to achieve a different passion and so on, so the priorities can differ for anyone, and that is okay.”
Not burnout, but poor time management?
Ronit further says that no matter how caught up an actor is, no one shoots for 365 days a year. “Usually the line is drawn at roughly 200 days, and the rest of the days, one is free to pursue what they want. It is another matter if someone wants to constantly be in the public eye, and is seen attending events/parties even after work. That will of course tire you out, emotionally and physically.” Talking about himself, the actor said that for him, as soon as he packs up, it was family time, and he never carried work home.
Actors who took a long break from movies (with or without burnout)
Imran Khan
The nephew of Aamir Khan, Imran made his debut with the romcom Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na in 2008, and quickly became popular, even though his movies, barring a few, did not do well. Eventually, Imran, who by his own admission, was not too passionate about acting, decided to hang up his boots, to concentrate on his mental health, and pursue other interests. His last movie was Katti Batti in 2015. Though there has been a buzz that he might return to the movies, nothing is yet confirmed.

Fardeen Khan
The actor, who made his debut in Janasheen in 2003, took a 14-year hiatus from acting, and his last release (till this year) was Dulha Mil Gaya in 2010. Battling drug allegations and weight gain, the actor eventually decided to take his health into his hands, and went through a massive transformation, eventually returning with Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar and Khel Khel Main.
Anushka Sharma
Considered to be one of the highest paid actresses of today, Anushka had always maintained that when she decides to get married and plan a family, her priorities will change. Having tied the knot with cricketer Virat Kohli in 2017, she immediately cut back on work. The couple welcomed a daughter in 2021 and a son in 2024, and the actress has only picked up one project in the interim, called Chakda ‘Xpress, that is yet to see the light of the day. Recently rumors are rife that she will quit Bollywood for good and move to London with her family.

Sridevi
Post marriage to producer Boney Kapoor and daughters Janhvi and Khushi, the superstar took a long break to bring up her daughters, eventually returning with English Vinglish in 2012. She however, remained selective about her work, till her untimely death in 2018.

This apart, superstars like Shah Rukh Khan, and Aamir Khan too, have taken a long break from movies in the past to recalibrate and rework on themselves.