Actor-writer Piyush Mishra has spoken candidly about his long struggle with alcoholism, describing it as a deeply consuming phase that affected both his personal and professional life. In a recent conversation, he reflected on how addiction gradually takes hold, often without the individual fully recognising its severity.
Piyush Mishra opens up about his battle with alcoholism
“At one point, you start feeling that drinking alcohol is necessary. Its effect is such that a person wants to drink more. Alcoholism is a deadly disease… there comes a time when, whether you want to or not, you need alcohol, your body craves it. I have felt this myself,” he said, describing the intense physical and psychological dependency that defined that period in a podcast with Shubhankar Mishra.
Despite battling addiction, Piyush maintained that he never let alcohol interfere directly with his work. He stayed away from drinking on set, even though he acknowledges that his mindset during those years was deeply influenced by alcoholism. His struggle, however, took a visible toll on his personal life and relationships, where loss of control often led to regret and emotional fallout.
“After drinking, I did many things that later made me feel, ‘This is not me.’ I had issues with my mother, and I said many hurtful things to her while drunk… even after I had realised I should forgive her. I made many inappropriate and obscene phone calls to women, and the next morning I wouldn’t even remember them… At that time, I was not in control of myself. I was doing things I didn’t want to do.”
Piyush on how his addiction affected his work
The repercussions extended into his professional space as well, with colleagues beginning to perceive him as difficult to work with. Piyush admitted that his reputation suffered during this time, and he often found himself having to clarify that he had changed a process that proved both challenging and exhausting.
A turning point came in 2009, when he suffered a brain stroke that forced him to confront his condition more seriously. Since then, he has worked towards managing his addiction through spiritual practices like Vipassana, which he says helped reduce his cravings. While he admits he has not completely given up alcohol, he has managed to regain a significant degree of control.
Piyush Mishra’s latest work
Piyush Mishra’s most recent on-screen appearance is in Rahu Ketu released in January on Zee Studios, a comedy film where he plays a supporting role alongside Pulkit Samrat and Varun Sharma. Prior to this, he was seen in Crazxy (2025), a psychological thriller in which he lent his voice to a key character, and Azaad (2025), though the latter had a relatively lower profile. Together, these projects reflect his continued presence in diverse roles across mainstream and experimental cinema, even as he balances acting with theatre and music.
