logo
Filmdom, Shaken Not Stirred, By Cocaine

Filmdom, Shaken Not Stirred, By Cocaine

News183 days ago
If movie stars indulge in drug abuse, then it will have a detrimental effect and adversely affect the attitude and behavioural patterns of teenagers.
Drug abuse is a malignant social and health problem that ruins lives, destroys society, and feeds into a cycle of violence and criminal activity. To combat this malaise, cinema can be the most potent weapon in the campaign against drug and substance abuse. Its effectiveness is ingrained in its inherent power to promote change, vibrancy, and gregariousness, and lastly its participatory nature. These four do not work separately, but rather as a combination and in symbiosis. But, if movie stars indulge in drug abuse, then it will have a detrimental effect and adversely affect the attitude and behavioural patterns of teenagers.
Youths indulge themselves in drugs and substance abuse for all sorts of reasons. They range from dysfunctional families, peer influence, availability of alcohol and drugs, influence of social media, unemployment and stress, to mention a few. It is worth noting that the youth are at risk of falling into the relentless cycle of drug abuse if a film culture portrays drug abuse as fashionable and cool.
The arrest of popular actor Srikanth, known for his work in Tamil and Telugu films, in a drug-related case has uncovered a criminal network that extends far beyond substance abuse and distribution. Tamil actor Krishna has also been detained as he is supposed to have used his political connections and film industry ties to peddle cocaine among celebrities. He allegedly hosted drug-fuelled parties and introduced several clients, including actor Srikanth, to the narcotic substance. These developments have shaken up film industries in South India. The arrests shook Kollywood and brought to light the involvement of former AIADMK executives, drug dealers, and several other actors. Srikanth reportedly confessed to having purchased cocaine more than 40 times, paying up to Rs 4.72 lakh in digital money. He also admitted that he first became addicted to the drug when he was taken to parties. Police say two popular actresses are also involved. With several celebrities across southern cinema facing drug use allegations, the Malayalam film industry has made a 'no-drug affidavit" mandatory on sets.
Malayalam actors Shine Tom Chacko and Sreenath Bhasi appeared before the excise team investigating the seizure of hybrid Ganja from a resort at Omanapuzha in Alappuzha. Shine Tom Chacko reportedly confessed to police about widespread abuse of synthetic drugs in the film industry and that several leading actors are involved in it. According to media reports, in the statement to the Police, he stated, 'Only I and one other actor are blamed; there are other major actors who use drugs as well."
What began with state award-winning actor Vincy Aloshious's bold revelation has spiralled into a full-blown controversy. The Justice Hema Committee report, too, had flagged substance abuse as a lurking menace within the industry, reinforcing what many suspected but few dared to confront. However, the public glare was more on sleazy details than on drug abuse mentioned in the report. Exactly 10 years after his sensational arrest in a high-profile drug case — Kerala's first cocaine case — actor Shine Tom Chacko finds himself back in the eye of a storm, for his drug consumption.
On 15 April 2025, actor Vincy publicly accused a co-actor of inappropriate behaviour and drug use during the shoot of the yet-to-be-released movie 'Soothravakyam'. Though she didn't name him specifically, it later emerged that the actor referred to was Shine. Vincy recalled disturbing incidents on set — from lewd remarks made in front of the crew to the actor spitting a suspicious white powder.
The controversy deepened the next day when CCTV footage surfaced showing Shine fleeing a hotel in Ernakulam during a District Anti-Narcotic Special Action Force (DANSAF) raid. Summoned by the police, Shine finally turned up at the police station on 19 April and was arrested after four hours of questioning, though under bailable charges. His past caught up too: in 2015, he was arrested in a cocaine case along with four women models from a Kochi flat but was acquitted in February 2025 after the court cited investigative lapses and the absence of cocaine traces in blood tests.
A string of recent incidents paints a disturbing picture: In 2023, actors Shane Nigam and Sreenath Bhasi were banned by the Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA) and the Kerala Film Producers' Association for unprofessional conduct allegedly linked to substance abuse. Adding to the growing concerns, actor Tini Tom publicly warned in May 2023 about rampant drug use in the industry, citing the deteriorating health of a young actor due to addiction. Substance use, the report revealed, was not just widespread but normalised across all levels of the industry—from actors to technicians. Recently, the Kerala Excise Department arrested three people, including Malayalam film directors Khalid Rahman and Ashraf Hamza, for possession of Hybrid Ganja.
To address this problem, the Justice Hema committee recommended a zero-tolerance policy on substance use at workplaces, contractual enforcement, clear signage, increased government surveillance, and awareness campaigns to educate stakeholders.
In Karnataka's Sandalwood, at present, actors Sanjjanaa Galrani and Ragini Dwivedi are out on bail on drug-related charges.
The Telugu film industry, or Tollywood, has a chequered history with drug abuse, and its failure to address it. Reports of substance abuse in Tollywood have surfaced periodically, with whispers of late-night parties and easy access to narcotics in elite circles. The industry's high-pressure environment, coupled with its wealth and glamour, creates fertile ground for such vices. Tollywood actor Pallapolu Navdeep appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for questioning in an alleged drug trafficking case in October 2024.
Surprisingly, all is quiet on the Bollywood front. However, in the past, stars like Ranbir Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Gauri Khan, Mamta Kulkarni, Honey Singh, and many more have been allegedly involved or were accused of substance abuse.
Whether a celebrity or a nonentity, both get trapped in drug abuse as a result of attempts to break away from the cycle of family brutality and psychological abuse at home and confront the dangers of drug dealers, addiction, and stigmatization.
Meanwhile, along with the rise in drug abuse, other disturbing trends are emerging. Kerala has recorded an over 76 per cent jump in abortion cases over a nine-year period, according to data released by the Health Management Information System (HMIS) portal, in June 2025. The widespread acceptance of live-in relationships could be encouraging the rise in abortions, which could be partly due to indulgence in drug abuse.
The Allahabad high court has observed that live-in relations are against the values held by Indian middle-class society. A bench of Justice Siddharth has expressed displeasure at the growing number of such cases reaching the courts. The Allahabad High Court recently observed that live-in relationships have no social sanction. Still, the youth are attracted to such relations, and it is high time that we find some framework and solution to save moral values in society. Hearing two other Public Interest Litigation (PIL) pleas challenging the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) provisions, especially rules on Live-In Relationships, the Uttarakhand High Court orally remarked that the female partner is more vulnerable in such relationships.
Youth, especially college and university students, routinely emulate their favourite matinee idols' behaviour in public, in advertisements, and on social media. Their favourite stars smoking cigarettes, consuming alcohol on screen, and enjoying rave parties are giving the youth the impression that the 'pleasure principle' should be the motto of life. This is ruining their careers and getting them into trouble with the law. In Andhra Pradesh alone, over 500 psychologists are being recruited in government schools, to tackle the problem of drug addiction.
Research studies have been undertaken in developed countries to theorize the media's influence on young people's attitudes and behaviours, as well as their willingness to engage in risky behaviours. Various theories of 'media effects" have demonstrated the impact of visual media on behaviour, such as sexual activity, anger, action, road rage, and violence. When people see more sexual content on television in movies and entertainment shows, they are more likely to participate in sexual activity with their friends.
Television shows create and manipulate a new type of social value system, beliefs, and customs. Younger audiences are more affected by television than older audiences. Television shows generally depict youngsters and adults acting immorally, cheating, killing one another, sobbing, and engaging in sex and often offensive behaviour. They portray a soiled image of adulthood that has erased their innocence and youth.
top videos
View all
Russell Brand sums it aptly, 'A drunk once said to me, 'Drugs and alcohol are not our problem, reality is our problem; drugs and alcohol are our solution to that problem.' Aren't we all, in one way or another, trying to find a solution to the problem of reality? If I get this job, this girl, this guy, these shoes. If I pass this exam, eat this pizza, drink this booze, go on this holiday. Isn't there always some kind of condition to contentment? Isn't it always placed in the future, wrapped up in some object, either physical or ideological?"
The writer is Former Director General, Multi-Disciplinary School of Economic Intelligence, and National Academy of Customs, Indirect Taxes & Narcotics. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views.
tags :
cocaine drug abuse drugs
view comments
Location :
New Delhi, India, India
First Published:
June 30, 2025, 11:48 IST
News opinion Opinion | Filmdom, Shaken Not Stirred, By Cocaine
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Telangana govt awards singer Rahul Sipligunj Rs 1 Crore
Telangana govt awards singer Rahul Sipligunj Rs 1 Crore

Hans India

time4 minutes ago

  • Hans India

Telangana govt awards singer Rahul Sipligunj Rs 1 Crore

The Chief Minister of Telangana, Revanth Reddy, has fulfilled his promise to renowned singer Rahul Sipligunj by announcing a cash award of Rs 1 crore in celebration of the Bonala festival. Rahul Sipligunj, who hails from the old town, has experienced a meteoric rise in his career, culminating in international recognition with the song "Naatu Naatu" from the acclaimed film "RRR." In a statement, Chief Minister Reddy praised Sipligunj as a role model for the youth of Telangana, highlighting his accomplishments through hard work and perseverance. During a program prior to the last elections, Reddy, then president of the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC), pledged financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh to Sipligunj, assuring that a substantial cash award would be forthcoming once the Congress government was in power. At the recent Gaddar Awards, Reddy specifically mentioned Sipligunj and hinted that an official announcement would be forthcoming. True to his word, on this occasion of Bonala festival at Patabasti, he presented Sipligunj with a significant financial token of appreciation. The singer expressed his gratitude towards the Revanth government for their support.

Delhi woman orchestrates robbery at relative's house with 2 friends posing as CBI officers
Delhi woman orchestrates robbery at relative's house with 2 friends posing as CBI officers

Indian Express

time4 minutes ago

  • Indian Express

Delhi woman orchestrates robbery at relative's house with 2 friends posing as CBI officers

A woman, allegedly inspired by the Bollywood film Raid, got two friends to pose as Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officers and rob her relative in Delhi's Wazirabad area, said the police. The three accused were arrested Friday. On July 10, at around 7.30 pm. Israt Jameel, a catering business owner, was at home in Gali No. 9, Wazirabad, when he heard a knock on the door. Three masked people, one woman and two men, all clad in sharp white shirts and black pleated pants, were at his door. They introduced themselves as CBI officers of the Okhla division, the police said. Jameel, a MPhil from Delhi University and a former Railways food contractor, was concerned. There was no reason for a central agency to knock on the door of his home in a lower-middle-class locality of North Delhi. He asked the CBI officials the same, trying to check their credentials. 'They said they had an FIR and search warrant against them. When the complainant asked for a copy of the FIR and search warrant, they rebuked and abused him,' DCP (North) Raja Banthia said. One of the three CBI impersonators allegedly introduced himself as Suni Dubey, and moved Jameel, his wife and their three children to a corner. The other two searched the house for 'evidence', before they hopped onto an old steel almirah, said the police. They allegedly broke open the lock and took the jewellery of Jameel's wife, both gold and silver, along with Rs 3 lakh cash. 'Before they (accused) left the house, Jameel asked for the receipt of the jewellery articles and the procedure to retrieve them. The three accused put their signatures on Jameel's daughter's notebook under fake names and wrote that they were taking the proceeds as evidence. Then they escaped,' DCP Banthia said. Jameel, still finding it odd that he had been raided by officers wearing masks, with no identity card or FIR to show for it, called the police. An FIR under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections 307 (theft after preparation made for causing death, hurt or restraint), 318 (cheating), 319 (cheating by personation), and 334 (dishonestly breaking open a receptacle containing property) was registered at the Wazirabad police station. The police then scanned through 200 CCTVs in the area, and found the bike of the accused. The bike, the police said, was registered in the name of a woman named Shaina, 22, a resident of the Karawal Nagar area. The other accused seen on the bike was recognised as Keshav Prashad, 28, a resident of Shanti Nagar in Delhi. Both their houses were raided, but neither of them was found. The police then put their phones on tracking and found that the accused were constantly shifting locations in Uttarakhand. 'The police team followed their location and on Friday evening, the accused Keshav Prasad and Shaina were apprehended from Mussurie, Uttarakhand and at their instance, other accomplice Vivek Singh was apprehended from Haridwar,' DCP Banthia said. The police said Shaina confessed to the crime, saying that Jameel is her distant relative. Based on family hearsay, she learned about the cash he kept in his house and devised the plan. She then allegedly roped in Keshav, a friend who owns a food supplement store in Haridwar. Keshav then called his friend Vivek, 20, a student at the School of Open Learning, University of Delhi, who also joined in, said the police.

Chandra Barot, best known for directing Amitabh Bachchan's Don, passes away at 86
Chandra Barot, best known for directing Amitabh Bachchan's Don, passes away at 86

Indian Express

time4 minutes ago

  • Indian Express

Chandra Barot, best known for directing Amitabh Bachchan's Don, passes away at 86

Veteran filmmaker Chandra Barot passed away at the age of 86 following a prolonged battle with pulmonary fibrosis. Best known for directing Amitabh Bachchan's all-time blockbuster Don (1978), which went on to inspire multiple remakes and legacy sequels across various languages, Barot reportedly breathed his last at a hospital in Bandra, Mumbai, on Sunday. Confirming his passing, the filmmaker's wife Deepa Barot told Times of India, 'He had been battling pulmonary fibrosis for the past seven years.' Upon hearing the news, actor-filmmaker Farhan Akhtar, who helmed the 2006 remake of Don, took to social media to express his grief. 'Saddened to learn that the director of the OG Don is no more. RIP Chandra Barot-ji. Deepest condolences to the family,' he shared along with a photo of the director. Born in Tanzania, Chandra Barot and his family moved to India in 1967 due to racial unrest in East Africa. After working as an assistant director on a few films, he made an enviable debut with Don, written by legendary screenwriting duo Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar (popularly known as Salim–Javed). Not only was the film a massive commercial success, but it also became one of the most beloved action thrillers in Indian cinema history. Besides helping cement Amitabh Bachchan's status as a superstar, it was also remade across multiple languages, with the biggest stars of the respective industries stepping into the central dual roles. While Don was remade in Telugu as Yugandhar (1979) starring NT Rama Rao (NTR), in Tamil, it became Billa (1980) with Rajinikanth. The film marked a turning point in the Tamil actor's rise to superstardom. The Malayalam version, Shobaraj (1986), featured Mohanlal in the lead role. Years later, Javed Akhtar's son Farhan Akhtar rebooted the film with Shah Rukh Khan in the titular role. Much like the OG version, the remake also became a massive hit, leading to a successful sequel in 2011. A third instalment, Don 3, starring Ranveer Singh, is currently in the works. Billa also inspired its own franchise, with a Telugu remake in 2009 starring Prabhas and Tamil reboots in 2007 and 2012 starring Ajith Kumar. Despite Don's success, Chandra Barot couldn't capitalise on its momentum. He later directed the Bengali films Aashrita (1989) and Pyar Bhara Dil (1991). Several of his other projects, including Boss and Neil Ko Pakadna… Impossible, remained incomplete or unreleased.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store