Misrepresentation of BPD in DNA: DNA is a 2025 Tamil film directed by Nelson Venkatesan, starring Atharvaa and Nimisha Sajayan.

While the movie DNA dared to touch the area of mental health, specifically Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) at the center of its storyline, the representation of this mental health issue was more problematic than progressive.

Misdiagnosed on Screen: Misrepresentation of BPD in DNA

Divya (Nimisha Sajayan) is said to have BPD in the film, yet the film gives no real explanation of what that causes. The movie mentions only the generic “therapy and medication”, without portraying the real symptoms such as extreme mood swings, identity struggles, suicidal tendency or fear of abandonment; The core traits of BPD .

Because of her condition, Divya’s claim  that the baby was switched is at first dismissed by family and doctors. While this adds dramatic flavour to the movie, it indirectly sends the message that women with BPD are unreliable and not trustable; further creating misunderstandings on an already misunderstood condition.

Though Nimisha Sajayan played her role with much dedication and intensity , it felt like her character is underwritten. The film fails to delve into deeper emotional and psychological areas of BPD, such as trauma, unstable relationship , or self-image conflicts.

What DNA Could Have Done Better

To represent BPD in a better way, the film could have:

• Explored her emotional side; mood swings, fear of abandonment, suicidal thoughts.
• Instead of making Nimisha’s character look like she is dumb, vulnerable, and always high in the spirit. The makers should have make her look normal like, any other woman.
• Not used the word “Mental” to refer to Nimisha, just because she is diagnosed with BPD.

DNA smartly made BPD center in its thriller aspect, but the portrayal remains so delusional.  For cinema to explore the societal stigma, especially around mental illness like BPD, it needs depth, dedication, and proper research, not just ‘half- knowledged’ dramatic aspects.

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