Introduction Mental health is no laughing matter—except, it seems, in many South Asian comedy films where women’s emotional struggles are used as comic relief. Instead of empathy, we often see mockery. Instead of complexity, we’re served caricature. The “crazy girlfriend,” the “overly emotional wife,” the “drama queen”—these aren’t just lazy writing choices. They reflect and reinforce the real-world stigma that keeps South Asian women from seeking help, speaking out, or even acknowledging their pain. Using women’s mental health as a gag may get a few laughs, but it sends a dangerous message: that their emotional well-being is exaggerated, irrelevant, or absurd. In a region where mental health stigma already silences…