Johny Lever Says He Was A 'Drunkard', Would Drink Till 4 AM At Chowpatty: 'Had Crossed My Limits'
Johny Lever has spent over forty years in the industry, and has seen his own fair share of ups and downs. At one point, he was one of the most successful comedians, acting in films and performing on stage. In a recent chat with comedians Sapan Verma, Aakash Gupta, and his daughter Jamie Lever, Johny revealed that he used to be heavily into drinking, staying at Mumbai's Chowpatty drinking until 4 am.
During an appearance on Sapan Verma's YouTube show, Johny, joined by his daughter Jamie, reminisced about his demanding schedule and how his overwhelming success negatively impacted his health and lifestyle. He explained that he often felt exhausted, juggling film shoots during the day and stage performances at night, combined with heavy drinking. This routine left him feeling completely drained.
Despite his exhaustion, Johny consistently delivered his performances, although he felt completely depleted afterwards. He advised moderation, sharing his own experience of excessive drinking until 4 am at Chowpatty, where even the police, recognizing him, allowed him to drink safely in their car. 'I request people—limit mein piyo (drink in moderation). I had crossed my limits, and it's not worth it. I was a drunkard. I would sit at Chowpatty and drink till 4 in the morning. Many times, the police would come, but when they recognised me, they would laugh and say, 'Arre, Johnny bhai,' and let me sit in their car to continue drinking safely," he said.
Discussing the impact of success, Johny noted that his constant presence in movies and international shows led to a loss of self. He ultimately decided to quit drinking and has remained sober for the past 24 years. 'Success can mess with your mind. At one point, no movie was made without me. I was also doing international shows and constantly traveling. I lost myself in all of it," he said.
In recent years, Johny Lever has become selective with his roles. This year, he has already appeared in three movies: Badass Ravi Kumar, Be Happy, and Housefull 5, with another film, Welcome To The Jungle, set to release, although the official date is yet to be announced.
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