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Amyra Dastur has been making news as a rising star and someone who isn’t afraid of being seen for who she is. Chirag Mohanty Samal speaks to the gutsy young actor.

- Chirag Mohanty Samal

In Bollywood, where newcomers are expected to walk a tightrope, Amyra Dastur did the unexpected. She was just two films old when she spoke to Bombay Times in a front-page interview about her anxiety, depression and anger issues. “Yes, I am undergoing therapy right now. After this interview, I am going to meet my psychiatrist. I feel very depressed at times.” She revealed a side of her that many in the entertainment industry work hard to hide. 

Professionally, Dastur is going places, quite literally. Besides Hindi films, she’s also worked in Tamil cinema, has signed on a Telugu project, and was seen opposite Jackie Chan in the Indo-Chinese movie, Kung Fu Yoga. We talk to the 23-year-old about what it’s been like to navigate this short but eventful career so far.

You had smashed your wrist into a glass table as a kid when your mother didn’t pick your call and had to drop a year of school as you couldn’t write for nine months. What made you speak about your anger issues?

I don’t see anything wrong with being honest. My life is far from perfect. When I check my Instagram, Twitter or Facebook page, I always see one or two comments from my fans saying that I’ve inspired them somehow. Those comments are what make me want to talk about my issues. I want to show my fans and the world that it’s okay to be imperfect, and the more accepting we become of this fact, the more it will help us overcome our issues.

How did you deal with your anxiety issues?