India, June 22 -- Actor Siddhant Karnick, who shared glimpses of his recovery from a knee replacement surgery online, held off on speaking publicly until he was, quite literally, back on his feet. "I was waiting for the right time to talk about the ordeal I went through in the past few months - getting operated on for a titanium disc in my left knee," he shares, "I'd rather people see me as someone who's bounced back, not struggling to recover."

The 42-year-old admits the aftermath tested his resilience: "After the operation, I was mostly lying down, watching the days go by. The real challenge began three to four months later, when depression crept in; staying motivated became really difficult."

The experience wasn't just about physical...