India, Nov. 10 -- Actor Rhea Chakraborty has lived through a storm few in show business could imagine. Five years after facing jail time and a social boycott following the death of her ex-boyfriend Sushant Singh Rajput in 2020, Rhea recently received a clean chit from the CBI, a verdict that was even opposed by Rajput's family. The ordeal, she admits, left her battling post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and struggling to rebuild her life. Yet, Rhea says her pain eventually became a bridge that connected her with others. "What I went through was so public that a lot of people automatically felt comfortable sharing their problems with me because they believed I understood mental health issues," she says. "Among my own friends, a few girls confided in me about their husbands or family members, people I've known for ten years but who were too scared to talk before. They finally opened up after they saw me survive something bad too," the actor adds. The 32-year-old recalls how gratitude and faith kept her grounded during the darkest phases: "I used to wake up and go to bed reminding myself what I was thankful for, even when it felt like there was nothing to be thankful for. I'd tell myself, my legs work, my hands work, my eyes see and that's enough for today." Her biggest source of strength, however, came from her daily recitation of the Hanuman Chalisa. "I started reading it in 2020, and now I recite it at least seven times a day. It's like meditation for me," she says, adding, "Beyond that, it's the deep, honest connections with a few friends that truly help. Sharing is powerful, it heals. That's why I started my podcast: I realised how much we can learn from other people's journeys." Reflecting on the broader stigma surrounding mental health, Rhea says little has changed despite growing awareness. "There's still a large section of society that believes mental illness is just drama or weakness. They say, 'control your mind,' without realising that in genuine disorders, the person can't. It's not about willpower, it's a chemical imbalance, and that's something people still don't understand," she says....