'He is FINISHED': Kapil Sharma recalls facing DEPRESSION at 36, reveals how life TURNED around

Kapil Sharma has long been known as one of India’s most popular entertainers, but his journey to becoming a household name was far from predictable. Before comedy found him, Kapil once harboured dreams of becoming a singer and even explored acting through serious roles. Comedy, he has said, entered his life unexpectedly, yet it went on to define his career, despite him believing it to be a far more demanding craft than it appears on the surface.

In a recent conversation, Kapil opened up about one of the most difficult phases of his life, revealing that he struggled with depression in his mid thirties. Speaking to ETimes, Kapil said, "At 36, depression hit me hard and I went completely down. People started saying, 'He's finished.' Then I got married. Then the show came back. Then I did 300+ episodes again." Reflecting on that period, he added that uncertainty is the only constant in life and that continuing to work with honest intentions eventually brings positive outcomes.

Kapil also spoke emotionally about his late father, Jeetendra Kumar Punj, who served as a head constable in the Punjab Police and passed away in 2004 after battling cancer for seven years. The comedian recalled winning The Great Indian Laughter Challenge Season 3 and receiving the Rs 10 lakh prize money, a moment that brought him to tears as he thought of his father and wished he were there to witness it.

At 36, depression hit me hard and I went completely down. People started saying, 'He's finished.' Then I got married. Then the show came back. Then I did 300+ episodes again.

- Kapil Sharma

Sharing another deeply personal memory, Kapil said, "When my show started, I remember standing quietly outside my house at 9 pm. In every house in the society, TVs were on, and I could hear people’s laughter. I thought to myself, if papa were alive, how happy he’d be. I miss him every day, but some moments hit harder."

Kapil’s reflections offer a rare glimpse into the resilience behind his humour and the personal losses that continue to shape him.