Radio and television star Anita Rani, 48, has detailed experiencing crippling anxiety due to overwhelming symptoms of menopause in a candid video shared on Instagram.
The presenter emotionally spoke about dealing with hormonal changes while out for a run on Monday, leading to an immediate message of support from fellow star Zoe Ball.
Filming herself during her outdoor workout, Rani explained that she felt compelled to share her personal health struggles with her followers.
"Hello gang. I wanted to share something deeply personal with you which I don't often do, so this is weird in itself," Rani said in the clip.
She described the emotional toll the condition has taken on her daily routine, admitting that the onset of symptoms caught her off guard.
"I have been experiencing something that I have never in my life experienced before and it has taken the wind out of my sails actually," she said. "I am suffering crippling anxiety. I am overwhelmed, I am unsure, and for somebody who has dealt wih life like this..."
Rani added: "With the power of a first born Indian dauhter who bosses life also just copes! I'm f**king great at it, this is like 'What the hell is going on?'..."
"Every mechanism I have in place to just deal with stuff that's just come easily for way over 40 years to me is crumbling beneath my feet. Obviously it's hormones, but here's the thing - do I take hormones or do I feel the feels?" she questioned.
Support from Zoe Ball
Her candid post resonated with fellow broadcaster Zoe Ball, 55, who shared a supportive comment under the video.
"oh darling girl. it is so overwhelming when it comes. i hear you. it was by far my biggest symptom with menopause and undid me quite a bit. sending you so much love x," Ball wrote.
The emotional video reached a number of fans, who expressed their support as Rani questioned how to navigate her feelings.
Rani reflected on whether she should accept the changes, asking: "Am I supposed to feel this? Am I supposed to go 'Oh okay, somethig is naturally going on'. Well, we're not tolerating the bulls**t anymore. We're not taking that from that person. Maybe I don't need to spin all the plates at once..."
"Is that I'm meant to do? Maybe I'm meant to feel my feelings. Also I get teary. I've ever got teary. I've been brought up to just boss and do and feel for other people but not for myself. And so right now we're in a situation gang..." she continued.
Cultural barriers and silence
Rani highlighted that Asian women are rarely open about health issues and the impact of menopause.
Her parents are both from India, and she was born and raised in Bradford, West Yorkshire, by an Indian-born Hindu father and an Indian-born Sikh mother.
"Because I just don't think Asian women talk aboout it. I don't think women talk about it but brown women, we don't talk about s*it do we? So that's why I'm telling you. Can anyone else relate? Send me your tips," she said in the video.
In an accompanying caption, Rani added: "Not my usual kind of post - but something I really wanted to share in case anyone else is feeling similar..."
"Recorded while out and about doing the thing that has always made sense for my mental health - going for a run. All tips welcome, gang!" she wrote.
Understanding the menopause
Menopause is a natural part of ageing that occurs when a woman stops having periods and can no longer get pregnant naturally.
The process typically occurs between the ages of 45 and 55. It is caused by dropping levels of the sex hormone oestrogen as ovaries stop producing as much of the hormone and no longer release an egg each month.
While some women experience few or no symptoms, others suffer from hot flushes, sleeping difficulties, mood swings and brain fog. These symptoms can last for months or years and change over time.
Hormone replacement therapy, known as HRT, replaces lost hormones and is the main treatment used to manage severe symptoms that disrupt day-to-day life.
Relationships and new beginnings
Rani has previously been in the public eye regarding her relationships and personal life choices.
In September 2025, she made her public debut with sound-wellness creator and musician Alex Lavery.
Her new relationship came two years after ending her 14-year marriage to technology executive Bhupinder Rehal in September 2023.
Rani met her former husband at a rave in east London, and the couple married in a Sikh ceremony in 2009. They separated in September 2023, with their hectic schedules over recent years causing them to drift apart.
A source told The Mirror at the time: "It's really sad but they've decided to separate. Their hectic schedules over the past couple of years have sadly meant they've drifted apart over time."
A year after the split, in September 2024, Rani spoke about entering a new phase of life during an interview with Love Sunday Magazine.
"Life is good, I'm in a good place. I'm focusing on myself and my own wants. It's nice to be able to think about the second phase of my life. I've been calling it Chapter Two," she said.
Rani also admitted finding freedom after getting divorced in a candid piece for The Sunday Times, detailing how she has navigated single life in her forties.
She confessed that her family believed divorce to be a cardinal sin. While admitting it was not easy to talk about, she explained that she wanted to detail her feelings about life so that she is answerable to no one.
