“When people like Naomi Osaka, Simone Biles and Ben Stokes speak up, we have to listen patiently” – Arjun Kapoor on sports legends prioritizing mental health

August 7, 2021 - 10:56 AM IST

World sporting icons, Naomi Osaka, Simone Biles, and Ben Stokes, have decided to put their mental health and well-being at the forefront, thereby starting a necessary conversation for today’s generation – is there way more pressure on them in a digitally intrusive world that’s making them be on tenterhooks?

“When people like Naomi Osaka, Simone Biles and Ben Stokes speak up, we have to listen patiently” – Arjun Kapoor on sports legends prioritizing mental health

Arjun Kapoor, who has battled with obesity since his formative years, certainly feels so. He has already acknowledged that his generation feels that every action of theirs is constantly scrutinized because we are in a digital age. Dismissed and trolled by people who simply called him fat, Arjun had also coped with his mental wellbeing while fighting obesity. He is thanking the sporting stars for paving the way for this generation to look after themselves and be caring to one another.

Arjun says, “We have to encourage and laud people who are coming out to tell their story. We live in an era where we are constantly being watched and monitored. It is not easy to not have any downtime. So, when people like Naomi Osaka, Simone Biles, and Ben Stokes speak up, we have to listen patiently because what they are going through is reflective of what our generation is feeling.”

The actor adds, “These guys are all legends who successfully deal with immense pressure every single day and if they are sparking a conversation to prioritize mental health, we should listen very, very carefully. Not apples to apples at all, but when I was battling obesity, it was brushed aside as I’m just a fat guy who is privileged and he must be eating and having a good time. No one bothered about what I was going through mentally.”

Arjun feels it is important to normalize these important conversations in society so that the youth of the country knows that it is absolutely ok to not be ok. He says, “These are very important conversations that people must have with their families and friends. We must normalize these conversations in society. In a digital world, we are being pushed to be constantly on. We are surrounded by cameras and we have to put up the best things for likes and comments. We hardly have time to connect with ourselves and our close ones without the presence of our phones. Plus, now, we have the pandemic which has made us all too boxed up.”

He adds, “It’s not been easy for everyone. So, when icons like them speak up, they have a huge influence on people across the world like me. It shows people that it is ok to be vulnerable and that it’s ok not to be ok. We all have to learn and unlearn and grow. Everyone should be allowed to go through their own journey because, honestly, everyone has a unique journey. We should not judge and pre-judge what a person is going through as it just defeats the purpose.”

Arjun hopes for society to be more caring towards the issues of others. He ends by saying, “We should aim to build an empathetic society where people love and care for each other and try and understand what each other might be coping with.”