'I had crossed all limits': Johnny Lever gets candid about alcohol struggles, sobriety, and starting over after stardom
Agencies
Johnny began his career at just 17 and quickly became a household name.
From chaos to clarity: A decision that changed everything
Faith, family, and the fight to get clean
He made millions laugh, but behind the curtains, Johnny Lever was fighting a silent, relentless battle. In a rare and emotional revelation, the legendary comedian opened up about his struggles with alcohol at the peak of his fame. Appearing on comedian Sapan Verma's YouTube show alongside his daughter Jamie Lever, the veteran artist peeled back the layers of his glamorous life to reveal the exhaustion, regret, and eventual redemption that shaped him.Johnny began his career at just 17 and quickly became a household name. Within six years, his comic acts were not just entertaining India but were being sold on CDs in the US. 'I used to be so tired,' he recalled. 'Shooting for films during the day, performing shows at night—and drinking heavily in between. It would completely drain me. I would be sitting backstage like I was in shavasana.'Despite being physically and emotionally depleted, Lever never let down his audience. 'I always gave my performance, no matter how drained I felt. But after the show, there would be nothing left in me.' Yet behind the scenes, his drinking habit spiraled. He confessed to often drinking till 4 in the morning at Mumbai's Chowpatty, where even the police would look the other way out of fondness.'Limit mein piyo,' he warned viewers. 'I had crossed all limits. I was a drunkard. But I realised—it's not worth it.' The veteran comedian now stands as a cautionary voice, urging people to recognise where indulgence ends and self-destruction begins.Acknowledging the intoxicating pull of fame, Lever said, 'Success can mess with your mind. At one point, no film was made without me. I was doing international shows, always travelling. I lost myself.' But a moment of truth arrived. 'Eventually, I made a decision. I quit drinking. It's been 24 years now, and I haven't touched alcohol.'He clarified that he never let his habit affect his professional commitments: 'One thing I can proudly say—I never performed under the influence. I never drank before a show.'In a past video shared by actor Dharmendra, Johnny had spoken about how alcohol strained his family ties. 'I used to drink a lot, about one and a half bottles. My wife would get angry, and I would get angrier. I hurt my children, disappointed my parents. I was living in a hell filled with mistakes.'The turnaround wasn't easy. 'I prayed to God and Jesus. Especially during the rainy season, the thirst was real. But I stayed strong.'Johnny Lever's story is not just one of fame or addiction but of resilience and the power of change. The beloved comedian has a packed slate ahead, with multiple high-profile projects in the pipeline. After the recent release of Housefull 5 on June 6, now available on Amazon Prime Video, Lever is set to bring more laughter to audiences with Welcome To The Jungle, Golmaal 5, and No Entry 2—all eyeing a 2025 release. He's also gearing up for roles in Race 4: Reloaded, scheduled for 2026, and eagerly awaited sequels like Awara Pagal Deewana 2 and Hera Pheri 3, both currently in production.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
10 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Panchayat fame Faisal Malik says Anurag Kashyap is ‘imaandaar' and ‘tedha': ‘When someone wrongs him woh satak jaate hai'
Faisal Malik became an overnight sensation in 2020 when Amazon Prime Video released its Indian series Panchayat. The show, starring actors Neena Gupta, Raghubir Yadav, Jeetendra Kumar, and Chandan Roy, became a sleeper hit in the pandemic era. The show had no glamour, no bodybuilders, just pure innocence of a group of villagers, dealing with everyday ordeal and implementing government schemes and overcoming challenges. The series broke all the norms and Faisal Malik thinks it is directors Ram Gopal Varma and Anurag Kashyap who made people believe that one doesn't have to look a certain way to become a successful actor. In a recent interview with Siddharth Kannan, Faisal shared, 'I think it is Ram Gopal Varma who made us believe that we don't have to have an attractive physique to be an actor. The era 2003-2004 was all about 'acting aaye na aaye body hona chahiye' (You need to look fit to be an actor).' Although Faisal Malik never got an opportunity to work with Ram Gopal Varma, he recalled the time he randomly visited his office. 'I visited his office, Factory, once. They, however, didn't let me meet him. So, I returned from there.' He added, 'I often used to visit that area. There used to be a bread pakoda stall outside Factory. People used to stand in huge queues there because they believed that hanging out there might increase their chances of being picked by Ram Gopal Varma. Everybody knew he only picked average looking people for his movies.' Faisal added, after RGV, it was Anurag Kashyap who took this belief forward. 'After Ram Gopal Varma, it is Anurag Kashyap who took this forward of working with average looking people. There was a time when people used to fear that if you don't look a certain way, you cannot be an actor. But, that has changed. Now, you see there are many great actors out there who may not have good looks or attractive physique.' ALSO READ | 'Divorce with Anurag Kashyap was bitter initially, hurtful to see him with someone else': Kalki Koechlin recalls how parents' hated each other after 'nasty' split Faisal Malik, who marked his acting debut with Anurag Kashyap's 2012 film Gangs of Wasseypur, worked closely with him even after the film's release. Speaking about the actor-filmmaker, Faisal shared, 'Anurag Kashyap is that rare person who knows what he is making. He knows his work.' When asked about his constant outbursts on social media, he shared, 'If you will look at Anurag Kashyap's work, you will know why all the outbursts happen. He is someone who has worked as a showrunner, writer, producer as well as director. He is extremely loyal. Aur imaandaar aadmi tedha hota hai thoda sa (An honest man tends to have a few quirks). Satak jata hai (They are short tempered).' He added, 'He is someone who breathes cinema. He is so deeply invested in it that he cannot do anything else. Even moving a simple coffee machine will be a task for him, but cinema? He can discuss it all day long without getting tired.' Further justifying Anurag Kashyap's frustration with the industry, Faisal shared, 'He has made several iconic films and has given several amazing directors to the industry. They are all doing so well today. This proves he is extremely dedicated to cinema. So, whenever someone wrongs him or wants him to compromise with his craft, woh satak jaate hai (He goes crazy). When it comes to cinema, he is a great man.'
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
‘She would be asked to do household chores to compensate for it': Expert reflects on Shweta Tiwari's parenting tricks that taught daughter Palak discipline and financial sense
Actor Shweta Tiwari, who has raised her daughter Palak Tiwari as a single mother, recently shared some of the rules she implemented to ensure her daughter grew up with discipline and a sense of accountability. 'She was given a budget. For instance, I allowed her to spend Rs 25,000, and if she went from 25,000 to 30,000, she knew that she would be asked to do household chores to compensate for it. There was a full list of chores. For cleaning her bathroom, she would get Rs 1000, she would get Rs 500 to clean the bed, for dishes, she would get Rs 1000,' she said in a chat on Bharti TV's YouTube channel. 'So she would do all of these things, and when she knew she was going to go over budget, she would do extra chores beforehand.' Tiwari also ensured her daughter followed certain boundaries around freedom and safety. 'If you have said that you will be back by 1 am, you should be at the door at 1. You can't say I am leaving at 1. 1 o'clock is to come back home, not leave the party,' she explained, adding, 'I would say I won't call their mothers, but if your phone is off, I will call the people who are with you. If I can't get through to them, then I will start calling their mothers because they would have the driver's contact details.' She further noted, 'I was a little scared that she is a girl and the society is weird.' Shweta also mentioned that Palak wasn't allowed to wear makeup until she was 16 or have a phone until she finished schooling. Even now, she handles her daughter's earnings. 'I don't let it stay in her account. And she keeps saying 'Mujhe kangaal kar diya, mere paise nikal liye (You have made me poor, you took my money)'. I keep telling her that the savings you have now, no one else has that. I ask her to sign the cheques, all the banking papers, so I can save and invest her money,' she said. A post shared by Palak Tiwari (@palaktiwarii) Counselling psychologist Athul Raj tells 'Linking budgeting with chores can be a meaningful way to help children understand effort, value, and responsibility. But the real impact depends on how these practices are introduced. When the focus is on contribution and choice, not control or reward, it becomes a learning opportunity rather than a transactional setup.' Children around the age of six or seven can begin to grasp simple financial concepts, he adds. 'Giving them a small allowance or letting them earn a bit through basic chores teaches the value of patience and decision-making. By the time they are ten or eleven, many children become more aware of their wants and peer influences, making it a good time to expand conversations around needs, savings, and limits.' Raj explains that when a child begins to earn money, it often brings pride and anxiety to parents. 'The challenge is to stay involved without stepping into control.' This shift from protector to mentor is crucial. One way to support your child is to co-create a structure around money. Sit together and break down the income. What percentage do they want to save, spend, or invest in learning or personal needs? Let them take the lead while you offer gentle guidance. 'Children will make impulsive choices. That is expected and often necessary. Instead of reacting with worry or blame, use those moments as entry points for reflection. Practical tools help too. Joint accounts with visibility, prepaid cards with spending limits, or simple budgeting apps can offer a sense of freedom within safe boundaries. Avoid monitoring their every move,' concludes the expert.
Pink Villa
an hour ago
- Pink Villa
Aamir Khan makes Nagarjuna, Lokesh Kanagaraj, Shruti Haasan and other Coolie actors watch Sitaare Zameen Par in vanity van on YouTube
Aamir Khan starrer Sitaare Zameen Par was a massive hit in theaters, garnering critical success as well. As the movie debuts on YouTube after the superstar turned down an OTT deal, he and the Coolie cast spend a movie night watching it together. Aamir Khan and rest of Coolie cast watch Sitaare Zameen Par together Taking to their official handle, Aamir Khan Productions shared a few snaps of the Coolie cast watching Sitaare Zameen Par together. As they all gathered inside Khan's vanity van, actors including Nagarjuna Akkineni, Sathyaraj, Upendra, Soubin Shahir, Shruti Haasan, musician Anirudh Ravichander, director Lokesh Kanagaraj, and producer Kalanithi Maran were spotted. Sharing the series of images, the post was captioned, 'You say movie night, and your gang pulls up.' See the images feat Coolie cast here: While the cast of Coolie spent the night watching Sitaare Zameen Par together, fans were wondering where Rajinikanth was. The pictures were taken after the Coolie Unleashed event took place in Chennai. However, what caught even more attention is the fact that the post has Sivakarthikeyan tagged with it. Several netizens spotted SK's name popping up, speculating whether the Amaran star is part of the venture. One user said, 'Sivakarthikeyan mention panirukaru apo movie la cameo va (They mentioned Sivakarthikeyan, does it mean he plays a cameo).' Another user said, 'Amir Khan really spoiled Coolie for all of us....U will understand if u see the last mention there.' See what netizens are talking about Earlier, several rumors suggested Sivakarthikeyan was part of the Rajinikanth starrer. However, in an interview with Pinkvilla, he mentioned he had just visited the sets because the shoot was happening near his home. While an official confirmation is pending, we'll have to wait and see whether it turns out to be true or not. About Coolie Coolie is an upcoming action thriller starring Rajinikanth in the lead role. The film, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, features Deva, an old daily wage worker with a menacing past resurfacing after 30 years to rescue his friend. With stars like Nagarjuna Akkineni, Upendra Rao, Aamir Khan (cameo), Shruti Haasan, Soubin Shahir, and Sathyaraj in pivotal roles, the film is releasing on August 14, 2025.
