Some struggles are often misconstrued, especially those that take place inside the head. We tend to confuse an unstable mind with madness, and the moment we do that, we attach some kind of stigma around it, says theatre director and actor Akshay Gandhi.

Fuelled by the need to open up conversations around mental well-being, Gandhi has directed a new solo performance, Burn My Diaries. Written and performed by actor Shweta Desai, the show is based on months of investigation and research. Both Gandhi and Desai interviewed friends battling mental health, as well as psychiatrists and counsellors, to understand the "mechanics of the mind".