Ira Khan Forgoes Bollywood for Mental Health Advocacy, Shares Personal Journey
In a candid and revealing interview, Ira Khan, the daughter of Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan and Reena Dutta, has opened up about her deliberate choice to prioritize mental health work over a career in films. She discusses her ongoing battle with depression, the crucial role her parents play as her support system, and her preference for a quieter, more introspective lifestyle that starkly contrasts with the typical party scene of celebrity offspring.
Choosing Purpose Over Stardom: A Career in Mental Health
Ira Khan has made a definitive and conscious decision to steer clear of the film industry, despite her family's deep-rooted connections to Bollywood. While her brother, Junaid Khan, has embarked on a cinematic career, Ira has charted a different path, one defined by her full-time commitment to an NGO focused on mental health for the past five years. "It is my career. I don't want to pursue films," she states unequivocally.
This choice is not born of rebellion but from profound personal experience. "After my experience with depression, there seems to be no point in doing anything else with my life," Ira explains. Her work allows her to channel her creative energies into advocacy and support, transforming her personal struggles into a professional mission that gives her life clear direction and meaning.
The Pillars of Support: Family Values and Unconditional Love
Ira credits her father, Aamir Khan, with instilling in her a strong work ethic and core values that guide her life. "His work ethic is one of them. He's always learning new things. The other thing that he's taught me is to stay true to what I believe in," she shares, expressing deep gratitude for these lessons.
More importantly, she emphasizes the unwavering emotional safety net her parents provide. "I truly believe that if I were ever in trouble, I can always reach out to my parents — no hesitation and no shame," Ira affirms, highlighting the critical role this familial security plays in her mental well-being and recovery journey.
A Quiet Life: Recovery, Sleep, and Home-Based Socializing
Diverging from the glamorous, high-profile social lives often associated with star kids, Ira Khan prefers a more subdued and intimate lifestyle. She explicitly states she does not enjoy clubbing or loud parties. "It's too loud, and there are too many people," she notes, explaining her aversion to such scenes.
Her recovery from depression has fundamentally reshaped her priorities, with sleep becoming a non-negotiable aspect of her self-care routine. "Since my recovery journey through my depression, I've realized sleep is very important to me. So I don't do late nights," she says. Her social life now revolves around quieter, home-centric activities like karaoke nights, craft sessions, and simple gatherings at home, which she finds more fulfilling and aligned with her needs.
Marriage, Fitness, and Personal Growth
Ira discusses her marriage to fitness coach Nupur Shikhare, revealing that it has not drastically altered her daily life. "Life after marriage has been pretty much the same as life before marriage. Which I think is a good thing," she remarks, indicating a smooth and well-considered transition. She adds that living with her husband and mother-in-law has been a positive and harmonious experience.
Fitness has also become an integral part of her self-care regimen, especially after her participation in the Mumbai Marathon. "The Mumbai Marathon was definitely a great way for me to kickstart my fitness journey again. There was definitely a big selfish plus side of 'Hey! This will mean I will have to get fit!'" she admits, linking physical health to her overall mental and emotional well-being.
Through her honest revelations, Ira Khan emerges not just as a celebrity child, but as a determined advocate who has turned personal adversity into a purposeful career, all while maintaining a grounded lifestyle supported by her family's love and her own hard-won insights into health and happiness.
