In between shots, Ananya Panday often reaches for her journal to pen down her thoughts. The process, she believes, has helped her slow down on chaotic days. Today, on World Mental Health Day, the actor is launching Dear Me, a project that encourages journalling and self-reflection. “Anyone who knows me knows how much I love journalling. Even now, in between shoots or while travelling, I jot down moments in my journal that make me smile. Inside are photos of my family, my dogs, my friends, little memories I love going back to. With Dear Me, we wanted to create something that captures that same feeling, of slowing down and finding joy in the small moments,” shares the actor.
Panday, in 2019, had launched the online initiative So Positive to battle trolling, cyber bullying, and address mental health challenges in the digital age. She views Dear Me as an extension of the same conversation, just simple habits that help one focus on themselves and shut out the negativity on social media. “I’ve learned that taking time for yourself isn’t selfish; it’s necessary. Whether it’s therapy, journalling, catching up with friends, or switching off from social media, those small acts make a big difference. We’re so caught up in what’s happening online that we sometimes forget to be present in our own lives. So, a digital detox every now and then is essential; it helps you realign and recharge,” she stresses.
To encourage the habit of slowing down, the actor has curated journals that will be on sale on her So Positive platform. She says a portion of the proceeds will go to the Mumbai-based Rati Foundation. “The foundation has been helping victims of online hate crimes through their Meri Trustline initiative. We wanted to help spread the word so that anyone dealing with online abuse knows that this helpline exists,” she adds.
Even as she is batting for healthier online practices, Panday knows there needs to be stricter policies in place to help people feel safe. Ask her what policy changes she’d like to see online, and she says, “It starts with having clear rules and accountability, like age limits for kids, quicker ways to report harmful content, and better tools to spot misinformation.”
In 2024, as part of the So Positive initiative, Ananya Panday launched a podcast of the same name. It has the actor interviewing YouTube stars like Prajakta Koli and Yashraj Mukhate, focusing on how they prioritise their mental health and tackle social media negativity.
