On a recent trip to India, the Surgeon General sat down with the delightful and inspiring father-daughter duo of Aamir and Ira Khan. Aamir is a renowned and beloved actor and producer, appearing in some of India’s biggest films. Ira Khan is founder of the Agatsu Foundation, a peer support and counseling center in Mumbai.
Many people assume Aamir and Ira’s lives are easy and worry-free given their success and fame. But as you’ll hear in our conversation, they, like all of us, have their own mental health struggles. Ira openly shares her experience with depression and anxiety. And at the height of his career, Aamir stepped back from acting to reconnect with himself and his family. They are very open about their mental health journey, which they are taking together as father and daughter.
We hope this conversation gives families the inspiration and courage to have honest conversations about mental health.
This conversation is the EXTENDED version of the conversation that appears on Netflix India’s YouTube channel.
(03:10) What was the culture of mental health different for Aamir and Ira when each were growing up?
(08:06) How has Ira struggled with, and addressed, her mental health?
(13:39) How did Aamir respond to Ira’s mental health struggles, and navigate his own?
(25:00) How is loneliness affecting people around the world, and what can we do about it?
(35:22) How can we shift the culture around talking about mental health, and make it as easy to talk about as a physical ailment?
(40:41) What have Aamir and Ira learned from doing therapy?
(51:43) How has social connection been a powerful healing force in Dr. Murthy’s life?
(01:00:35) What advice do Aamir and Ira have for parents and for young people struggling with their mental health?
We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at housecalls@hhs.gov with your feedback & ideas. For more episodes, visit www.surgeongeneral.gov/housecalls.
Aamir Khan, Actor and Filmmaker
Instagram: @aamirkhanproductions
Ira Khan, Mental Health Advocate
Instagram: @khan.ira @agatsufoundation
About Aamir & Ira Khan
Ira Khan is the founder and CEO of Agatsu. She has clinical depression since age 18 and was diagnosed in 2019. She is a Suicide Prevention Gatekeeping Instructor and a HAP counsellor at Agatsu and regularly conducts sessions on Emotional Hygiene, which is Agatsu’s primary proposal to society. She’s on the Steering Council of IMHA. Ira is also a passionate advocate of mental wellbeing in her personal capacity having done talks, panel discussions and podcasts. The kindness of her heart is rivalled only by the fire of her spirit. She recognizes that human beings themselves are humanity’s greatest enemies when they are busying themselves not being its champions. Agatsu is her invitation to everyone to confront the unknown within and find their own truth.
-----
Through his career in Hindi films, Aamir Khan has established himself as one of the most popular and influential actors of Indian cinema. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including four National Film Awards and eight Filmfare Awards. He was honored by the Government of India with the Padma Shri in 2003 and the Padma Bhushan in 2010.
In 2001, Khan started a production company, whose first release, “Lagaan,” was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and earned him a National Film Award for Best Popular Film and two more Filmfare Awards (Best Actor and Best Film). Khan's greatest commercial successes came with “Ghajini," “3 Idiots,” “Dhoom 3,” “PK,” and “Dangal,” all of which held records for being the highest-grossing Indian film of all time. Khan won his third Best Actor award at Filmfare for “Dangal.”
In addition to acting, Khan is a humanitarian and has participated and spoken out for various social causes. He has created and hosted the television talk show “Satyamev Jayate,” through which he highlights sensitive social issues in India.
