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Romesh Ranganathan Opens Up About Dark Past and How Running Saved His Life

BBG News

Romesh Ranganathan shared that he once imagined contemplating suicide, opening up about his mental health struggles in an interview with Runner’s World UK.

The comic, aged 47, confessed that as a deeply depressed teenager, he nearly made the decision to end his own life.

Prior to participating in this year’s London Marathon on behalf of the charity Teenage Cancer Trust, Romesh shared insights on how maintaining fitness has assisted him in overcoming his personal challenges.

He said: ‘When I was 18 or 19 years old, I feel like I came very close [to] ending my life.

Feeling utterly hopeless, I struggled to find a reason to continue living. I sank into deep despair. At some point, thoughts of suicide began to cross my mind – these are the thoughts where one starts to imagine such an outcome.

As a dedicated follower, I’d express it this way: When contemplating ending my life, I experienced a strange sense of relief, as if a heavy burden had been momentarily alleviated from me.

‘Mental health is something I’m still aware of, and it’s been a battle for me. 

‘It’s similar to being a former smoker; you need to remain vigilant about it.’

Romesh acknowledges that even though he finds methods to alleviate some of his distressing thoughts, there are times when anxiety manages to sneak back into his life.

He mentioned: ‘Currently, I’m quite fortunate in my life, yet there are moments when I sense a slight gloominess or apprehension starting to surface within me.’

At times, I must confess, I haven’t been jogging. However, it’s been a persistent challenge for me.

Recently, I’ve begun addressing an internal critic residing within me, a persistent voice that frequently conveys negative opinions about myself, labeling me as worthless.

For quite some time, I’ve been dealing with that issue. Fortunately, I no longer experience it, but I understand its nature well.

2023 saw Romesh openly confessing that a distressing inner voice often led him to contemplate suicide.

On The Diary of a CEO podcast, I delved into the hurdles I’ve encountered throughout my journey, revealing how these experiences have served as an unending wellspring of inspiration for my blockbuster performances.

In the heartfelt discussion, I found myself revealing that I often contemplated ending my life and even entertained such thoughts…

It seems to me that most comedians have a unique perspective, possibly due to experiences that have left them feeling somewhat detached or unconventional in certain aspects of life.

Discussing his thriving comedy career, he remarked: “Stand-up comedy has become my addiction, and it enhances every aspect of my abilities.

However, there’s a nagging inner thought that haunts me. It often whispers, “You’re not the best father, you’re not the best husband.”

Yet, I struggle with this relentless inner dialogue that tells me, “You’re not an ideal father, you’re not an ideal husband.

For approximately six consecutive talk shows, I found myself in a deeply troubled state. Despite my troubles, I approached each appearance with unwavering conviction that I was inadequate for the task at hand.

When queried about what transpires when things go awry onstage, he commented: “It’s dreadful. That deafening quiet… It never grows any simpler, you know.

However, I gain a lot from these performances. My aim is to give my absolute best during this one, as whatever comes next isn’t within my control.

Instead of focusing on the distant goal you’re aiming for, concentrate on executing each task exceptionally well. If you truly enjoy what you are doing and consistently put in your best effort, you’ll be traveling along a promising path.

Romesh advocates for the increased use of humor as a means to aid individuals in coping with their mental health challenges.

When our protagonist, who was only twelve at the time, his brother Dinesh, and their mother Shanthi lived together, Ranga – their father – left them. As a result of this unfortunate event, they were compelled to transfer from Reigate Grammar School to a nearby public school, as their father had been imprisoned for committing fraud.

For 18 months, Romesh and his mom had to reside in a Bed & Breakfast inn, as their family dwelling was seized. Eventually, they managed to secure a government-provided home, known as a council house.

After being freed, Ranga took over managing a pub in Grinstead, East Sussex. However, tragically, he passed away due to a heart attack.

Even though Romesh and his brother eventually had a falling out, the comedian attributes his sibling’s humor as being instrumental in helping him cope in the initial days following their father’s passing.

Discussing his battles with mental health during a conversation on the Original Penguin X Campaign Against Living Miserably Under The Surface podcast in March 2023, Romesh shared: ‘At times, humor can be used as a coping mechanism, and it’s important to keep that in mind.’

It seems quite beneficial to me, considering we both share an unusual, somewhat dark sense of humor with our families.

For instance, when my father suffered a fatal heart attack at home, it was my brother who discovered him unconscious and eventually lost his life.

Overwhelmed with emotion, I rushed straight there, shedding tears upon arrival, and the very next day found myself gathered at my mother’s home, navigating the aftermath of this extraordinary event, with friends and family stopping by to offer their support.

My brother teased me for ten minutes over the noises I make when I cry, and we both had a good laugh about it.

He said, “Let me tell you, those sounds you were making were incredible, I’ve never heard anything like it before from a person! We couldn’t help but laugh about it.

Although it might seem quite grim, there was a sense of release in it. Despite the awful experience we were enduring, there’s a silver lining that we could even find humor.

The full interview can be read in the May issue of Runner’s World UK on sale now

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2025-04-02 02:38

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