His apartment is almost empty. We spot a leather chair that needs repairing. There are his daughter, Imara’s toys at one corner. He pulls out two floor cushions, and we start off. Imran Khan has just returned from South Mumbai from his “analysis”, he says.

We curiously ask what’s that, and he simplifies it: therapy. “I have four sessions a week,” he says. How does one go from being the chocolate boy in films such as Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na (2008), Mere Brother Ki Dulhan (2011)... to seeking therapy? We get chatting over coffee:

Truth be told, it is a little surprising. When I was actively working, I had PRs, managers, and then in addition to that, you also had to come on social media. When I sought to get away from all that, I dropped all. My intention was to not be present in the public domain. After spending 10 years trying to be invisible, for people to have that curiosity is somewhat counter intuitive. Almost all brands have approached me in the last year for endorsements. I turned down everyone. I don’t want people to say ‘he’s back for the money’.

It was kind of a growing realization that the more of what I was engaging in... all of the things which one is told that if you do, you will have a successful career, your value will grow, you will be happy. I realized that actually they were not tied in for me.

It’s quite the opposite. I’ve never had any interest or value for it. It is such a ridiculous ephemeral thing. I’ll tell you the first taste of fame that I got. I shot for my first film without it releasing. Then I shot for my second film Kidnap also without it having a release. Then I started shooting Luck. So by the time Jaane Tu.. released, I was halfway into the filming of Luck. So at that point, I was dubbing for Kidnap. The studio was pure vegetarian. At some point I had ordered non vegetarian food and they would not let me eat inside the studio. They gave me a plastic chair, put it outside where the cars are parked and I ate there. I had got accustomed to it. I spent a couple of weeks doing that, until the trailer of Jaane Tu... released and suddenly it was on television. I walk in and everyone in the studio is saying ‘Sir that’s you’ I’m like it’s the same guy who’s been coming here for three weeks. I go in, I do my dub, and then, lunch break. I step out and there is a row of these guys standing there with a tray of mutton biryani, plates, spoons, forks. They say ‘sir, why don’t you sit in the air conditioned lounge’. Sir? Now when these guys have spent three weeks making you sit on a plastic chair outside and then the next day they say sir, sir, sir, how much value do you give to this sudden outpouring of love and affection where they are falling over themselves? Do I take it seriously?

It is surprising. When I was working actively, I had PRs, managers and in addition to that, you also had to be active on social media. When I sought to get away from all that, I dropped it all (marketing machinery). I didn’t want to be present in the public domain. After spending 10 years trying to be invisible, for people to have that curiosity is counter intuitive. Many brands have approached me in the last one year for endorsements, but I turned them down. I don’t want people to say, ‘He’s back for the money’.

I have consciously tried to shield this part because of the complications of me divorcing (former wife Avantika Malik) and ending my marriage... Lekha has been a really positive and healthy influence in my life. She is caring and loving. Having grappled with depression, I don’t know if I would have been able to make it without her.

The thing about depression and anxiety is that there are shades that exist, yet you don’t recognize them. It’s only as you start to become a little conscious, you can’t sleep at night and you wake up at 4.30 am thinking, ‘Oh, is that anxiety?’ I didn’t really consider that what I was going through could be depression. It didn’t strike me in a way that it was significant enough for me to pay attention. I guess around late 2016, I started to really get it. I still go for therapy four times a week.