Legendary actor Dharmendra’s passing on November 24 has left a significant void in Hindi cinema. Known for his larger-than-life persona, Dharmendra was also open about his past struggles with alcohol — a chapter he had shut for good nearly a decade earlier.
In a 2007 interview with Lehren Retro, he candidly revealed that he had given up drinking eight years prior, saying the decision transformed his life. “I used to drink heavily, but I realised it doesn’t suit me,” he said. “If you want to look the same and maintain your stamina and clarity — because drinking affects you — it’s the worst thing. Today I wish I had never touched alcohol. If I hadn’t, I would’ve been a very different Dharmendra. I would have been able to concentrate much more, much better, which I couldn’t.”
He admitted that although his drinking didn’t harm others, quitting brought him newfound clarity and joy. “Once I moved away from alcohol — I feel I enjoy life more than I ever did,” he said in Hindi. For him, alcohol had merely masked his strength. “It was a crutch hiding my real power with artificial means.”
Dharmendra further explained that he had tried periods of sobriety before — quitting for six to eight months at a time, only to relapse. But everything changed on a flight to Los Angeles. He challenged himself: no alcohol on the plane. “On that flight, I decided I’d give it up completely. The same determination I had when I wanted to become an actor — ‘If I can make it big, why can’t I survive without drinks?’” he said, invoking the faith that “God helps those who help themselves.”
By the time of his passing, Dharmendra had stayed alcohol-free for eight continuous years. His openness about addiction, recovery, and choosing clarity over indulgence remains one of the lesser-spoken but powerful aspects of his legacy.
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