Vidhu Vinod Chopra On Daughter’s Struggle With Bipolar Disorder: 'My Job Was To Take On Her Stress'

Vidhu Vinod Chopra, a known filmmaker, is now a proud father as his daughter, Ishaa Vinod Chopra, launched her first book. Ishaa’s book, Finding Order In Disorder: A Bipolar Memoir, delves into her struggles with mental health and aims to help many people struggling with this disorder find hope. The filmmaker recently discussed dealing with this vulnerable phase with his daughter as well as how he managed to be beside her during the tough time.

In conversation with The Times of India, Vidhu Vinod Chopra stated that when he initially learnt that his daughter was ill, he was in shock. Later, he contacted their family doctor, who, according to him, played an important part in treating Ishaa. The filmmaker stated, “He has played a significant role in raising my daughter. He diagnosed her with bipolar disorder, and that was when I received my first lesson on what bipolar is. Thanks to his guidance, I understood that it’s a condition like any other, and we needed to fight it together as a family.”

Furthermore, talking about how he helped his daughter during the difficult time, Vidhu Vinod Chopra stated, “My job was to take on her stress. That’s the first thing the caretaker or family should do. I hate to make this comparison, but since I am writing a fantasy, I have to say it: like the Sagar Manthan, the family has to take the poison out of the mind of the family member who is suffering, hold it, and bear with it.”

Shedding light on how his daughter dealt with her condition, the filmmaker stated that Ishaa was in Pune and her interest in art helped her a lot. He added that it was then he realised how much art can assist. He went on to say that when a person becomes so immersed in the art, their mind shuts out all distractions, which eventually helps.

Ishaa Vinod Chopra’s book, published by Om Books International, was launched recently. Reportedly, apart from the filmmaker, Shantanu Ray Chaudhuri, editor-in-chief of Om Books International, Dr. Rajesh M Parikh, Director of Medical Research and Hon. Neuropsychiatrist at Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre, and Aastha Kottary, host of the podcast ‘Slow Down With Aastha’, were also present at the event.