Piyush Mishra's Candid Confession on Alcoholism as a 'Deadly Disease'
Renowned actor and writer Piyush Mishra has bravely opened up about his intense, prolonged struggle with alcoholism, sharing deeply personal moments from a period that severely disrupted his life on multiple fronts. In a heartfelt revelation, he described addiction as a "deadly disease" that often creeps up unnoticed, evading detection even by those suffering from it.
The Uncontrollable Craving for Alcohol
During an appearance on Shubhankar Mishra's podcast, Piyush Mishra detailed his battle with alcohol dependency. He explained, "At a certain point, you begin to feel that drinking alcohol is absolutely necessary. The effect is so powerful that a person constantly desires more. Alcoholism is truly a deadly disease, and even an alcoholic frequently fails to recognize their own condition. Medical science currently offers no definitive cure for alcoholism. There reaches a moment when, regardless of your intentions, your body craves alcohol intensely. I have personally experienced this overwhelming physical need."
Maintaining Sobriety on Professional Sets
Despite his personal struggles, Piyush Mishra emphasized that he never consumed alcohol while working. "I have never performed after drinking, nor have I ever arrived on set in an intoxicated state. However, it profoundly affected my mindset—I operated with an alcoholic mind. While singing 'Husna,' I had an alcoholic mind; while working on 'Gulaal,' I had an alcoholic mind, but I did not drink during those times. I drank due to physical cravings, which are incredibly difficult to suppress," he stated.
Behavioral Changes and Regrettable Actions
Piyush continued to speak openly about how alcohol altered his behavior, leading him to commit actions he later barely recognized. The actor shared, "After drinking, I engaged in numerous behaviors that later made me think, 'This is not me.' I had significant issues with my mother, and while drunk, I said many hurtful things to her. My mother was living with me in Mumbai, and although I had come to understand that I should forgive her for past grievances, I still did not stop. I uttered many harsh and painful words to her."
He added, "I made numerous inappropriate and obscene phone calls to women, and the next morning, I would have no memory of them. Later, when I mentioned it, they would say, 'Sir, you said such vulgar things on the phone last night.' I would deny it, saying, 'I couldn't have said that,' but they insisted. At that time, I was not in control of myself. I was doing things I never wanted to do, actions I believed I could never commit in a sane state of mind."
Professional Repercussions and Workplace Fear
Mishra acknowledged that his behavior began to spill over into his professional life, making coworkers wary of him. "Professionally, people were scared of me because of my erratic behavior. It started negatively impacting my work. Colleagues began saying that I was very difficult to work with, and that perception persists—that I am temperamental and challenging. I grow tired of explaining that I am not that person anymore; I have largely gained control over myself," he admitted.
Spiritual Path to Managing Addiction
Though Piyush admits he has not completely quit alcohol, he explained how spiritual practices helped him manage his addictions over time. "I have not entirely given up alcohol—I still drink occasionally, but not regularly. The craving diminished through spiritual means. My problematic actions and incidents while drinking kept increasing, and then in 2009, I suffered a brain stroke that affected my right side. After that, I practiced Vipassana and learned to control my cravings. However, I am still an alcoholic—alcoholism never truly disappears. You can take a daily reprieve. You can arrest the disease, but you cannot completely eradicate it," he reflected.
Recalling the chaos of those days, he said, "I had become an anti-social person. My work saved me. Otherwise, the things I have done... people might have killed me. Considering the kind of behavior I displayed, people could have beaten me to death."
Artistic Output Hampered by Addiction
During a 2024 SCREEN interview, Piyush revealed how alcohol "hampered" his artistic creativity and dismissed the notion that any drug "enhances" creative abilities. "I was in a very bad state; it had affected me neurologically. Under the influence of alcohol, I had started speaking nonsense." He added that sobriety did not fully clear his alcoholic thought patterns, causing him to "react differently" in certain moments. "Like speaking rubbish in front of elders. I returned from the verge of destruction. I knew if I continued like that, it would be the end of me," he concluded.
