Depression at 13: Archana Puran Singh recalls how an injury shattered the dreams of her son Aaryamann, who even represented India in football at junior levels

Actress Archana Puran Singh recently had a heart-to-heart chat with her son, Aaryamann Sethi. Among the other things, the two recalled when Aaryamann went through a phase of depression when he was studying in London. Archana revealed Aaryamann had broken his leg while studying at a boarding school in London when he was 13. Although this most cherished dream was not specified, Aaryamann played football in college. As per a Hindustan Times report, he represented India in the Asian Football Confederation’s U-13 nine-nation tournament in 2009. This might have been the lifelong ambition that was stifled due to the accident.

Archana reminisced how his matron had called her and revealed he had broken his leg. The news devastated her, as she knew how this incident would become an obstacle to his lifelong dream. “I knew your dreams would be shattered. It wasn't just your leg that was broken. Your dreams were also broken. Your heart was broken too.”

Archana then reflected on how Aaryamann tried to hide his pain through a joyful demeanor. “People don’t know about this thing. You have shed a lot of tears. They see you laughing and enjoying, but you have seen pain behind that comedy,” she said.

She also recalled how Aaryamann was so depressed he did not come out of his room for a year. “You used to sit in this room, and I’m not talking about days; you would be sitting here for months and even a year, and you thought you could not get out of this room. I thought you wouldn’t be able to get out of this darkness…” she said.

Aaryamann went on to underline how crucial it is to place mental health at the forefront of one’s life. He reflected on how most people focused only on his financial security and the comfort of having a supportive family, often disregarding his battles with depression and anxiety as something insignificant or fabricated. Aaryamann acknowledged that many others face challenges far greater than his own, yet he stressed that the anguish, emptiness, and setbacks he endured were genuine and deeply affecting.