MUMBAI: In the wake of the heartbreaking terror attack in Pahalgam targeting tourists, actress Kriti Kharbanda took to her social media to express deep grief and share an emotional and powerful message about the overlooked mental aftermath of such tragedies.
In a heartfelt series of posts, Kriti wrote,
"There are some thoughts that have been weighing on my heart, and I feel compelled to share them."
While acknowledging the collective grief and shock, Kriti emphasized the importance of recognizing the silent struggles that follow.
"While I’ve already expressed my grief and shock over the recent tragedy in Pahalgam, I want to draw attention to something equally important but often overlooked—the mental aftermath. PTSD is real. It is not just a medical term. It’s something that will silently grow within the hearts and minds of those left behind. Of the families who lost their loved ones. Of the witnesses. Of the survivors."
She further urged authorities and society at large to not wait for those suffering to ask for help:
"I urge our government, mental health professionals, NGOs, and anyone who works in the space of emotional healing—please don’t wait for these families to reach out. Reach out to them. The ones who are gone, are gone. But the ones still here need us. They may never recover, but they can be helped to cope. Every second we wait, the trauma seeps deeper. Most people don’t even know what PTSD feels like. But that doesn’t mean they’re not living with it. We owe it to them to show up."
Addressing a critical societal issue, Kriti spoke firmly against linking acts of terror with religion:
"And while we’re talking about showing up—let’s be clear: terrorism has no religion. It is not the act of a faith, but the act of individuals—of a twisted, cowardly mindset. It takes nothing but cruelty to attack people at their most vulnerable. On a holiday. While they're laughing. While they're free. This wasn't just meant to scare us. It was meant to divide us. And we must not let it. There are no good or bad religions. We never say someone did something kind because of their religion—but the second something violent happens, we rush to find a religious cause. This is not only unfair, it is dangerous. And it takes us further away from the one thing we all are—human. No matter our names, our castes, our backgrounds, our orientation, or our beliefs—we will all go down in history as human beings. That is our common ground. Our shared identity. And humanity must come before everything else."
In her final note, Kriti underlined that violence can never be justified, and offered comfort to those who are silently carrying the grief while pushing through life:
"Taking a life is never justified. Never. But we cannot let this pain fracture us further. We must come together—not just to mourn, but to protect what binds us. To those who are hurting, and still showing up for life every day—you’re seen. Whether you’re going to work, paying bills, or simply trying to stay afloat—you’re allowed to grieve and still carry on. We are not expected to move past this. But we can learn to move with it. Together."
Through these heartfelt words, Kriti Kharbanda not only stood in solidarity with the victims and survivors of the Pahalgam tragedy but also reinforced a larger message she has long championed — that mental health matters, and healing, compassion, and humanity must always come first.
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