Javed Akhtar revealed that alcohol once consumed much of his life, impacting his decisions and leading to major mistakes. Reflecting on his battle with drinking, he admitted he could have used his time more constructively if not for his struggles with alcohol.
Appearing on episode three of Chill Sesh, Javed candidly admitted that alcohol had consumed a significant portion of his life, estimating that he lost around 10 years to drinking.He quit on July 31, 1991, and now urges young people to give up alcohol, reflecting that many of his major life mistakes were made under its influence. He believes he could have used that lost time more positively and constructively.
Akhtar, now 79, reflected on his first marriage to actor-screenwriter Honey Iraniacknowledging that it might have been saved if not for his struggles with alcohol. The couple married in 1972 and divorced in 1985, with Akhtar attributing his addiction as a significant factor in the breakdown of their relationship.
He expressed regret over the failure of his first marriage, acknowledging that it could have been salvaged if not for his irresponsible behavior and drinking. He admitted that being intoxicated led him to make impulsive decisions and escalate minor issues into conflicts, contributing to the mistakes that affected the relationship.
In a previous interview with Be A Man, Yaar, Javed Akhtar shared that alcohol would bring out a “devil” in him, making him offensive and unlike his usual self. He believed that bottled-up emotions like anger and bitterness contributed to this transformation, as these behaviors only surfaced when he was drunk, never during his sober moments.