Sanjay Dutt's daughter Trishala Dutt opens about toxic silence: "It's not self-care - It's power play"

Sanjay Dutt's daughter Trishala Dutt, a psychotherapist living in the US, just dropped some serious wisdom on Instagram that's got everyone talking. In a series of eye-opening Instagram stories, she broke down the difference between healthy silence and the toxic silent treatment, and how it's a game-changer for anyone who's ever felt punished by someone's silence.



Healthy vs. Harmful silence

"Healthy silence taken to cool down— communicated clearly," Trishala wrote. Think: "Hey, I need a moment to process. Talk soon." That's simple, direct, honest and respectful communication; no mind games.




But then there's the dark side: "Harmful silent treatment (is) used to make someone feel small or desperate." That's when someone ghosts you— not to recharge themselves, but to control you. "Silence that protects your nervous system is self-respect. Silence that punishes someone else is power play," she nailed it.

Her words hit hard because we've all been there - staring at our phone, heart racing, wondering what we did wrong. Warning about how silence cannot only erode a relationship, but also self-worth, Trishala said, "Over time, the silent treatment erodes your sense of safety, your self-trust, and your belief that relationships are supposed to be places where problems can be worked through instead of being weaponised against you."



Meet Sanjay Dutt's daughter Trishala

Considering the high-profile Bollywood family that she belongs to, Trishala prefers to keep a low profile. She is a psychotherapist who lives in the US, and she uses her platform to normalise tough conversations about emotional abuse, boundaries, and healing.

For the unversed, Trishala is Sanjay's daughter from his first wife, Richa Sharma, who tragically passed away from a brain tumour in 1996. In 2008, Sanjay married Maanayata, and they have twins Shahraan and Iqra (who were born in 2010). While the twins--Shahraan and Iqra-- pop up occasionally on their parents' social media profiles, Trishala prefers to keep her life private, except when sharing wisdom like this.

Despite the distance, Trishala and Sanjay share a close relationship. They often wish each other on social media, which reflects their close bond.



Why Trishala's social media message matters now

In a world of ghosting culture and passive-aggressive behaviour in dating, Trishala's reminder is timely. The silent treatment isn't "just space" - it's emotional manipulation that chips away at your self-worth. Healthy relationships are built on open and honest communication, not control.

So, the next time someone goes silent with you without any particular reason for days, remember Trishala's words. Call it out kindly or walk away - you deserve relationships where silence heals, not harms.

Have you experienced the silent treatment? How did you handle it? Share your views below.