Talk to parents when in stress: Actor Deepika Padukone tells students during 'Pariksha Pe Charcha'
New Delhi (PTI): Identify the cause of your stress and express it to someone you can trust, Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone has told school students during an interaction on PM's Parisha Pe Charcha aired on Wednesday.
The actor shared insights on mental health, stress management and how to stay calm during exams at a special session of 'Pariksha Pe Charcha', an annual event in which the Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacts with students appearing for board examinations.
In a shift from the traditional town hall format, PM Modi preferred a more informal setting this time and took the students to Delhi iconic Sunder Nursery for his annual interaction with them ahead of board exams.
“I think competition and comparison is a part of life. Competition is not a bad thing, but recognising our strengths and weaknesses, focusing more on our strengths, and working on our weaknesses is probably the only way to do it,” Padukone said during the session.
During the session, the actor shared her struggle with depression and also advised the students to learn to derive happiness from their own strengths.
"To manage stress, talk to your parents the night before exams. Identify the cause of your stress and express it to someone you can trust,” she said during the interaction broadcast on Wednesday.
Eminent personalities like Boxer MC Mary Kom and spiritual leader Sadhguru have also shared their experiences and knowledge with students on key aspects of life and learning in different episodes of Pariksha Pe Charcha this year.
Padukone, who revealed her depression diagnosis in 2015, said there was a time when discussion around mental health was not encouraged in India.
"Mental health used to be a stigma in our country. As soon as I started talking about this illness, I started feeling so free, light. From there, my journey towards mental health awareness began. Depression, anxiety, stress could happen to anyone, anytime.
"Like Shri Narendra Modi ji has mentioned in his book 'Exam Warriors' -- 'express, never suppress'. When you're preparing for exams, you start feeling better. And you're able to live a happier, healthier life," she told students during the episode of the PPC session which was telecast on Wednesday.
Calling depression an "invisible" illness, the "Pathaan" star said there was a time she was working continuously and one day in 2014 she just passed out. It was her mother, who was then visiting her in Mumbai from Bengaluru, who realised that something wasn't ok.
"They asked me if something happened, someone said anything to me, something happened at work. And, I said, 'No. I don't know what it is. I'm just feeling completely helpless and hopeless. I just don't want to live anymore. I was lucky in that moment that my mother realised and she decided to call a psychologist," she recalled.
When a student asked for tips to care for one's mental health, Padukone shared three pointers.
"Sleep is very important. It is a freely available superpower. You must go out for adequate sunlight and fresh air. Always reach out for help."
The 39-year-old also said patience is an important virtue and one can only do what's in their control.
"So take a short break. Relax the mind. And then address it again. Sometimes, you just (need to) have a fresh take on whatever you are studying. Feeling stressed is quite natural. How we handle it is important. It's important to be patient -- related to your exams, results or preparations... Sleep well, hydrate, exercise, and meditate," she added.
Padukone said it may sound like a cliche but she always competes with herself.
"If I did a particular scene a certain way, how will I do it differently the next time I'm on set and better? Challenge yourself... Competition and comparisons are a part of life. And, competition is not really a bad thing. But to focus more on our strengths and to work on our weaknesses is probably the only way to do it. Try learning from competitors and see what you can do differently."
The actor also expressed gratitude to the prime minister for the opportunity.
"I'd also like to thank the honourable prime minister Shri Narendra Modi ji for giving us this platform to really come out as exam warriors and not worriers. I wish all of you the very best and do your best, take adequate rest."
The first edition of the prime minister’s interactive programme with school and college students was held at the Talkatora Stadium in February 2018. Its seventh edition was held in a town hall format at the Bharat Mandapam in Pragati Maidan, engaging participants from across the country and overseas.
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41 lakh illicit liquor seized, 1.84 lakh arrested in major drive: K'taka Minister tells Assembly
Belagavi (Karnataka) (PTI): The Karnataka Excise Department has conducted a statewide crackdown on illegal liquor trade over the last two years, resulting in arrests and seizures of alcohol, Karnataka Excise Minister R B Timmapur said on Tuesday.
As many as 1,09,017 people were arrested, and seizures included 13.66 lakh litres of liquor and 27.19 lakh litres of beer, he said in a written reply to a starred question by Harihar BJP MLA B P Harish in the Karnataka Assembly.
The Minister said the enforcement drive covered the financial year 2023–24, 2024–25 up to June, and 2025–26 from July to October, targeting unauthorised liquor manufacture, storage, sale and transportation across the State.
"During this period, statewide enforcement drives resulted in a total of 1,84,570 raids against illegal liquor sales,” Timmapur said.
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He noted that 9,179 non-bailable cases and 91,968 bailable and compoundable cases under Section 15(A) of the Karnataka Excise Act, 1965, were registered during the same period.
According to him, there have been no reports indicating that students have become addicted to alcohol due to illegal liquor sales.
The sale of alcohol to minors is strictly prohibited under the Karnataka Excise Act, 1965, and the department has issued periodic instructions to initiate legal action against violators, with strict enforcement and investigation measures in place, the Minister said.
Excise officials are carrying out regular road and night patrols, collecting intelligence, monitoring habitual offenders and conducting raids to identify illicit distillation units, unauthorised liquor outlets and spurious liquor manufacturing centres, he said, adding the department is also enforcing the law to prevent the production, storage, sale and transport of spurious, non-duty-paid and unauthorised liquor.
Regular patrols are being conducted on national and state highways, with suspicious vehicles being subjected to checks.
At the district level, standing committee meetings are held under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioners, and joint operations are carried out with the police and forest departments to curb excise-related offences.
The department is also conducting awareness programmes through Gram Sabhas and in schools and colleges to educate the public and students about the physical, mental and social health hazards associated with alcohol addiction and substance abuse, Timmapur added.
