Nawazuddin Siddiqui says once again that no one has depression in the villages; Gulshan Devaiah replies, “I wouldn’t take it seriously.”

He was asked about his controversial comments in a new interview with NDTV. The actor said in Hindi, I was just narrating my experience. It is possible that I am wrong. But even today, if I were to go to my village, which is only three hours away, and say I suffer from depression, I would be slapped. They told me to eat and go to the fields. When asked if he meant that people in rural areas are unaware of these conversations instead of stating that mental health problems don’t exist, the actor said, “It doesn’t exist.” Nobody knows, nobody has depression in the villages. As a matter of fact, go check.

Nawaz continued without providing any medical evidence, you see, in cities, people have a habit of glorifying even the smallest issues. Because they don’t see how people with real problems live their lives. See how they dance on the sidewalks in the rain, why aren’t those people suffering from depression?

In reaction to Nawaz’s latest comments, actor Gulshan Devaiah tweeted, Dritharashtra Syndrome and Gandhari. I respect the man immensely for his craft, but I don’t take him seriously on this matter. If you even look at alcoholism or addictions, they exist in rural communities and that’s a mental illness. No addict indulges in addiction because he loves it. Addiction is a symptom, the real problem is the trauma they fail to heal.

Nawaz had made his original comments in an interview with Mashable India. He said, I’m from a place where if I tell my dad I’m feeling depressed, he’ll slap me Depression waha nahi tha, kisi ko bhi nahi hota waha depression, sab khush hai (No one gets depressed in the villages, everyone is happy there). But I learned about the anxiety, depression, bipolar after I got to town.

The actor is currently promoting his upcoming film Jogira Sara Ra Ra. Recently he has been seen in Afwaah, and is best known for Gangs of Wasseypur and Sacred Games.