IntroductionMental health is not a punchline—but for far too long, South Asian cinema has treated it like one. Whether it’s a woman shown “going mad” over a breakup, being labeled as “pagli” (crazy) for expressing pain, or reduced to erratic behavior played for laughs, mental health issues—especially among women—have often been reduced to comic relief in Indian and Pakistani films. This isn’t just bad storytelling. It’s harmful. In a region where talking about mental health is already heavily stigmatized, media plays a crucial role in shaping public perception. By using women’s emotional and psychological struggles as comedic fodder, South Asian cinema not only disrespects the lived experiences of countless women…