Sohum Shah opens up about struggles with English, Says, "Feeling like a misfit in Bollywood"

Sohum Shah, the actor-filmmaker of 'Crazxy,' shared his mental health struggles on The Suvir Saran Show. He said his difficulties with English made him feel inferior, which led him to seek therapy.
He shared his struggles with English and its impact on his career in Bollywood. He felt inferior due to his limited English skills, which made it difficult to secure lead roles. Opening up about this, he said, “There was a time when I used to feel quite inferior. I didn’t know English back then. The time I entered the industry, if you wanted to work in Bollywood but you didn’t know English, you wouldn’t ever get to play main lead characters. Around 2010-12, there was a notion, a class system. I didn’t know Al Pacino, Game of Thrones, etc. If you went to clubs, the songs wouldn’t appeal to you, and I would feel like a misfit. I spent a decade like this. I then saw a therapist. I was in a lot of pain. Mental health is of utmost priority. If that is in place, you can solve all other problems."
Shah shared his struggles with everyday tasks due to his limited English skills. He recalled, “I didn’t know how to even order a cappuccino at a café. Now it’s gotten better. I still cannot speak properly, even today. If we go to a high-end restaurant to eat, I ask my wife to order food because it’s tough for me. I knew since 2012 about my mental health issues, but I didn’t go to a therapist because I was scared that I would go mad. I didn’t go because I thought I knew everything and I would fix it. Knowing your issue is one thing, and accepting it is another. It took me 10 years to acknowledge my issues. I never felt ashamed going to therapy. I saw a friend going to one, and I started too. Therapy helped me a lot. I think everyone should get therapy today because in today’s world, mental health issues are rampant."
Sohum Shah's 'Crazxy,' directed by Girish Kohli, is facing challenges at the box office. The film, which marks Shah's return after seven years, saw a slight increase in earnings on its second day.