“I just could not sleep”: Gully Boy actress Kalki Koechlin reveals 4 months of insomnia after heartbreak on Soha Ali Khan’s podcast

Kalki Koechlin is widely recognised for taking on different roles across films, theatre, and digital platforms. She has delivered notable performances in movies like Dev.D, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Margarita with a Straw, and Gully Boy.

Opens Up About Struggle with Insomnia

Recently, Kalki opened up about a challenging phase in her life when heartbreak led to prolonged insomnia. She shared her experience during a candid conversation on a podcast hosted by Soha Ali Khan.

Heartbreak Took a Toll on Mental Health

The actress revealed how emotional distress impacted both her mental and physical well-being, leading to serious sleep issues for months.


"I did have a series of months of insomnia from heartbreak, and it really made me realise how psychological it all is."

Sleepless Nights and Coping Mechanisms

Kalki described how she struggled with disrupted sleep patterns, often waking up in the middle of the night and trying to stay occupied.

"I just could not sleep, I would wake up at 2 or 3 in the morning and end up playing the guitar or doing something to occupy myself, because there was no way of going back to sleep."

She shared that engaging in small activities became her way of coping with those long, restless nights.

The prolonged lack of sleep also affected her sense of reality, especially during workdays.

"On the days I had to work, I remember feeling like I didn't know if I was in a dream state or awake, I was really confused, wondering, 'Is this really happening, or am I still asleep?' It went on like that for about four months,"

Personal Life and Recent Work

On the personal front, Kalki was previously married to filmmaker Anurag Kashyap. After their separation, she found companionship with her partner Guy Hershberg, and the couple welcomed their daughter Sappho in 2020. Her most recent film appearance was in the English-language drama Goldfish.