MUMBAI: Producer-director Nivedita Basu, who has served as the creative director on many top shows like "Kasautii Zindagii Kay", "Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi", "Hum Paanch", "Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki", says in this highly competitive industry it is essential to stay mentally strong and happy.  Nivedita feels disheartened to hear about suicide cases and says people should rather find ways to stay happy and positive. 

"Mentally you should make yourself strong to be happy with yourself. One must always engage themselves, like cooking at home, practicing yoga. Everything can be therapeutic, doing art, craft, drawing, dancing, singing, etc you have to find ways to engage yourself the moment your mind is empty is when these negatives thoughts come," Nivedita, who has been in the industry for about 26 years, says. The "Meri Awaaz Hi Pehchaan Hai" producer says being mentally happy is more important to her and that she doesn't bother much about her physicality and looks.  "In today’s day and time especially the younger people who are under 30 years are more bothered about the external looks. There are some above 30 years also who tend to think about physical looks because of social media as everyone here is competing to get more endorsements, trying to look thin and fit," she adds.

Nivedita, who has directed Rashami Desai and Tanuj Virwani-starrer web series "Tandoor", says not just celebrities but even the common man is suffering from depression and anxiety.  "I know so many school and college kids who suffer from it, from the competition, from other things. It is present everywhere but because celebrities are known entities and everyone wants to know what is going on with these actors it comes more in the limelight," she adds. To overcome depression and anxiety Nivedita says good support system in terms of family and friends is the best way to engage oneself.  "Meditation helps a lot, you have to get used to spending time with yourself, go for walks on a daily basis so when you go out, you see people around you, it engages your mind. It also gets me to think because I am a writer and to keep myself occupied I watch a lot of content," she says, adding, it is important to not just survive but thrive in life.