Ram Kapoor's Journey of Redemption: Actor Opens Up About Struggles with Depression and Addiction

Actor Ram Kapoor’s journey of redemption came full circle in Saturday’s episode of Lock Upp: Sach Ya Sazaa. During an eviction task on the Netflix reality show, he revealed his third and final secret, securing his place in the finale week. In the episode, Ram admitted that his 2011 hit show Bade Acche Lagte Hain was shut down because of his behaviour. He also opened up about frequently arriving late on set, misbehaving with colleagues, and struggling with alcohol. On the show’s latest episode, Ram Kapoor shared, “I have worked for 27 years. I have done so many films and so much, yet my identity comes from one show – Bade Acche Lagte Hai. I have kept one secret from the world; even my wife doesn’t know. During the show, I went through the absolute worst depression of my life. I received so much love because of my weight, and I was talked about so much that I became the highest-rated TV star for a while.” Also Read: Lock Upp: Pamela Serena says Ram Kapoor ‘almost tried to attack me’; actor apologises He further added, “I kept gaining more and more weight. My doctors told me that I had become unhealthy and that I could die in six months. I could’ve had a diabetic stroke because I was on insulin three times a day. My sugar was between 400 and 600, and I was working for 14 hours a day. I didn’t want to do anything about it because I was getting so much love and making so much money. how could I walk away from all that? I became a very ugly person.” As his health worsened, Ram Kapoor admitted that it also took a toll on his behaviour and work ethic. The actor said, “I would show up six hours late for the shoot, drank alcohol on set, spoke to people very rudely. I became a monster. Finally, the show ended because of me. I had become such a human being that I am ashamed of myself.” Referring to co-contestant Harshad Chopda’s earlier revelation about attempting suicide, Ram said, “If I didn’t have kids, I would have done what Harshad had done. When you have kids, you live for them and don’t have the right to stop our lives. That’s the only thing that saved me. It’s the only reason I am alive today. It’s been over 10 years, and today I am very happy as a human being. Gautami and my children will also be finding out about this right now.” This is not the first time Ram Kapoor has spoken candidly about the darkest chapters of his life. In an earlier episode, the TV star revealed that he had been sexually abused as a child. Last week, he also opened up about his father’s final days after his cancer relapsed. Ram said his father chose to forgo further treatment and wished to spend his remaining time peacefully as his health deteriorated. The actor shared that he stood by his father until the very end. “I held his hand, and every day I helped him go. My mother and sister still don’t talk to me; it’s been more than 5 years. But I think it’s one of the best things a child can do for his parent. Everyone lives like a king; my father died like a king. He made me see my strength. I saw death this close because of him, and it means nothing to me anymore. I learned how to live seeing his death so closely,” Ram shared. Lock Upp Sach Ya Sazaa has entered its finale week. The Netflix India show will find its winner on August 5. Disclaimer: This article contains references to severe depression, suicidal thoughts, and excessive alcohol consumption, and is intended solely for informational purposes. If you or someone you know is going through a tough time or experiencing mental health distress, please know that support is available. HELP IS A CALL AWAY MENTAL HEALTH HELPLINE NUMBERS AASRA Contact: 9820466726 Email: aasrahelpline@yahoo.com Timings: 24×7 Languages: English, Hindi Snehi Contact: 9582208181 Email: snehi.india@gmail.com Timings: 10am – 10pm, all days Languages: English, Hindi, Marathi Fortis MentalHealth Contact: 8376804102 Timings: 24×7; All days Languages: Achiku, Assamese, Bengali, Dogri, English, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Konkani, Malayalam, Marathi, Punjabi, Rajasthani, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu Connecting NGO Contact: 9922004305, 9922001122 Email: distressmailsconnecting@gmail.com Timings: 12pm – 8pm; All days Languages: English, Hindi, Marathi Vandrevala Foundation Contact: 18602662345 Email: help@vandrevalafoundation.com Timings: 24×7 Languages: Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati and English