Celebs are under constant pressure to perform, so burn-out is not uncommon. Some of them share how to handle stressful times
Mona
Guitarist Carlos Santana rescheduled his concerts after he collapsed on stage near Detroit due to heat exhaustion and dehydration; singer Shawn Mendes postponed his world tour ‘to heal and take care of his mental health’. Popular Tamil actor Vikram was admitted to hospital after suffering chest discomfort on the day he was supposed to be a part of the teaser launch for his upcoming film Ponniyin Selvan.
Actor Deepika Padukone landed on the sets of Project K in Hyderabad from her Europe trip and was spotted at the hospital for a check-up…All this data is from the last four weeks alone. Indeed, burn-out is a stark reality today. Two years into the pandemic, it’s not just the healthcare workers but professionals across various segments who are feeling stressed; celebs being in the eye of the storm.
Stitches hitmaker Mendes (23), who has been touring since he was 15, took a break from performances through the pandemic, and then felt ready to resume, but mental exhaustion led him to reconsider his decision. Peter Parker of The Amazing Spider-Man, Andrew Garfield too announced a sabbatical after a packed 2021. The Proposal actor Sandra Bullock, who has been working consistently since 1987, recently expressed the desire to take a break from work. Many others like Grammy winners Lady Gaga and Beyoncé have opened up on burn-out over a period of time. Tragically, popular singer KK passed away in May, after feeling uneasy at a live show in Kolkata.
Sad reality
“Celeb burn-out is a reality, as our profession is demanding,” says actor Aly Goni. “Acting is a lot of hard work, especially when you are working on a show like Aashiqana, which involves a lot of action sequences. We constantly have day and night shoots, but, as they say, the show must go on,” shares actor Khushi Dubey.
With crazy routine comes the need to watch out before you hit rock bottom. “I give my 100 per cent. Once it’s done, I switch off and then am in my own space,” says Anupamaa’s leading man Sudhanshu Pandey. Actor Anuj Sachdeva believes it’s a tight rope walk. “In acting, rejection level is high. One needs to learn how to cope with that and maintain composure. One needs a lot of physical and mental exercise each day,” he says.
“Acting is a 24×7 job even when you’re not shooting,” points out actor-director Nasirr Khan. “Today there is added pressure of social media. Celebs try to be who they are not. And somewhere along the process forget their real selves. Life is about living, exploring and enjoying,” he adds.
Popular singer Sukhwinder Singh, however, has a different opinion. “Performances have been there forever. Yes, an artiste must not continue if the venue is physically and mentally demanding. While big names can afford to take their doctors along, there are provisions for medical assistance at shows now.” Celebrated composer Mithoon says, “Stress is man’s worst enemy. Exercise and yoga can come in handy, I
am already learning it.”
