‘Not able to proceed with daily activities’: Shruti Haasan recalls battling 'crippling anxiety' after breakup in 2018. What helped her cope?

Shruti Haasan has often spoken about the importance of honesty, both in her art and in life. While she continues to make headlines for her professional choices, the actor recently opened up about a deeply personal phase that shaped who she is today. As fans celebrate her latest career move, Shruti’s thoughts on mental health and self-discovery have once again sparked an important conversation.

The buzz around Shruti has grown after the makers of Aakasamlo Oka Tara unveiled her first look from the Dulquer Salmaan-led adventure drama. The announcement, shared on her birthday, introduced her in a new avatar. Describing her role, the makers called her character a trailblazer, someone who stands her ground and confidently claims her space in the story. The reveal has only added to the excitement surrounding the film.

Shruti Haasan opens up about taking acting break in 2018

Amid this, Shruti recently looked back at a difficult chapter from her life. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the actor spoke about juggling multiple creative pursuits, including acting, singing, music-making and writing. During the conversation, she also opened up about taking a break from acting in 2018, a decision that, she said, was driven by personal and emotional challenges.


Shruti hinted that her breakup at the time was the hardest part of that phase. She was reportedly in a relationship with theatre actor Michael Corsale, but the two eventually parted ways. Looking back on that period, Shruti shared that stepping away from work turned out to be a turning point. While the breakup was painful, she said the rest of the break allowed her to reset and reassess her life.


The actor candidly revealed that she had been dealing with "cripping anxiety" for several years. According to Shruti, the anxiety had reached a point where it affected her ability to manage everyday tasks. She explained that the break gave her the space to finally address her mental health and focus on healing. Though the experience was challenging, she believes it helped her grow stronger

Shruti spent a significant part of that break in London, where she chose to live independently. She shared that doing simple things—, ike cooking her own meals, managing daily chores, using public transport, and spending hours practising music and writing, played a big role in her recovery. Reconnecting with music without expectations and presenting her work to a new audience helped her rediscover herself, she added.

Looking back, Shruti described that time as invaluable, saying she would not trade the experience for anything. After her breakup with Michael Corsale, she later dated Mumbai-based illustrator and doodler Santanu Hazarika. The two were together for a couple of years before parting ways in early 2024.

Besides Dulquer Salmaan's upcoming movie, up next, she has Mysskin's Train, also starring Vijay Sethupathi and Salaar Part 2: Shouryanga Parvam in the making.