New Delhi, July 12, 2025: A candid comment by veteran actress Jaya Bachchan on anxiety has sparked a wide-ranging debate on social media, reigniting conversations about mental health awareness across generations.
Speaking on a recent episode of granddaughter Navya Nanda’s podcast, What The Hell Navya, Jaya was joined by her daughter Shweta Bachchan for a heartfelt discussion on emotional well-being and the evolving understanding of anxiety.
When Navya brought up the subject, Jaya remarked,
“We hadn’t heard of an anxiety attack when we were kids. Even in our midlife, we didn’t hear of such things.”
She attributed rising anxiety levels to social media pressures, information overload, and the growing obsession with external validation:
“Too much information—how you should look, dress, or do your nails—feeds into anxiety.”
Her daughter Shweta, however, offered a counterpoint, suggesting that anxiety and mental health struggles have always existed, but weren’t openly discussed in the past:
“I think anxiety was always there. It’s just more identifiable and spoken about now.”
Navya echoed the view, stating that increased awareness and conversation have helped destigmatize mental health among younger generations.
The intergenerational discussion triggered strong reactions online. Some users agreed with Jaya, pointing to the toxic impact of social media on mental well-being. Others applauded Shweta and Navya for acknowledging that mental health struggles are not new—just newly recognized.
The episode struck a chord with many, highlighting the generational divide in understanding mental health, and reinforcing the need for open, empathetic conversations across age groups.
