'Meat, Alcohol, And 200 Cigarettes A Day': Amitabh Bachchan's Bold Confession From 1980 Interview
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In a rare 1980 interview, Amitabh Bachchan revealed he once smoked 200 cigarettes daily, drank heavily, and ate meat—habits he later quit for a simpler, disciplined life
Amitabh Bachchan, Bollywood's living legend, widely admired today for his disciplined and modest lifestyle, once led a very different life. In a candid 1980 interview with India Today, the megastar opened up about his former habits, which included heavy smoking, regular alcohol consumption, and eating meat.
'I do not smoke, drink, or eat meat. It is not a religious issue, but a matter of taste," he said. 'I used to consume meat, drink alcohol, and smoke, but I have given all that up." His decision to quit was not motivated by religious beliefs but stemmed from practical challenges, especially the difficulty of finding vegetarian food while travelling abroad.
Amitabh Bachchan also noted that dietary differences in his family were never a cause for conflict. His wife, Jaya Bachchan, and his mother, Teji, both enjoyed non-vegetarian food, while his father, Harivansh Rai Bachchan, was a lifelong vegetarian.
He revealed that during his time in Calcutta, he smoked up to 200 cigarettes a day. 'Yes, 200," he admitted. 'But I quit after coming to Bombay. I drank excessively too, but some years ago, I realised I didn't need it." Amitabh Bachchan also shared in the interview, 'These habits no longer affect me, except when I'm shooting overseas, where finding vegetarian food can be quite a challenge."
Beyond lifestyle changes, Amitabh Bachchan also spoke about his temperament, describing himself as generally calm but quick-tempered in his younger days. 'I don't think I'm a violent person, nor do I often lose my temper," he said, though he acknowledged getting into a few college fights. On cinematic violence, he remarked, 'It should be grand, and people accept it as such."
Professionally, Amitabh Bachchan continues to stay active in cinema. He was last seen in the futuristic pan-India film Kalki 2898 AD (2024), and later appeared alongside Rajinikanth in Vettaiyan (2024), marking their first on-screen reunion since their 1991 hit Hum.
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