Glad I battled out my anxiety disorder issue: Payal Ghosh

It has been almost a decade since the actress has featured in a south film. “I have signed two films — one in Telugu and one in Tamil. Both are big films and require a lot of people on the sets. Those films will start rolling from February,” she tells us. 

Payal adds that she has been choosy about the films she wants to be a part of. “I have been signing films in which I have a substantial role. I sign if am the protagonist or a female lead, who isn’t a mere prop on sets. Also, I took a break for a few years in between as I was battling anxiety issues,” the actress says. 

“There have been days when I wondered if I would be able to make it to the next day alive. Everything around me made me anxious. I took medication to live a normal life. I started putting on weight. Only after I started believing in myself, I was able to battle the depression I was going through. My doctors and counsellors were of huge help and people close to me are happy that I am back to normal now,” she opens up. 

Payal took the plunge into politics and joined the Republican Party of India (A) in October. She admits that she had to do it for her own safety. “I had no other option. I approached the police and they were of some help. But they have their own limitations and pressure situations. In order to seek justice, I joined the party. If you ask if I will contest elections, the answer is ‘no’. Even if I am given a ticket, I wouldn’t. I look at my political plunge as philanthropy with which I will be able to reach out to more people and help them out,” she reveals. Payal says that she would lose out on a few movie offers in Bollywood because of her stance on a few issues. 

“A man, who speaks and makes films on women empowerment put me in a spot of bother in 2013. I spoke against him in September and some people didn’t take my word for it. I know what I have been through and justice will prevail. That way south film industries are unbiased,” she concludes.