Javed Akhtar recalls drinking ’18 bottles of beer’ in one sitting after getting allergic to whiskey: ‘Koi hai toh achi baat hai, nahi toh main akele pee leta tha’

In a recent interview, lyricist-screenwriter Javed Akhtar opened up about his habit of excessive alcohol drinking and how he didn't even need company.

By: Entertainment Desk

New Delhi | May 9, 2025 11:40 AM IST

3 min read

Javed Akhtar opens up about his alcohol addiction (File/Express Photo by Nirmal Harindran)

Javed Akhtar has always been open about his battle with alcohol addiction. He has spoken about how it impacted his personal and professional life. Now, in a recent interview, Javed revisited the time when he used to drink excessively even when he was alone. He also revealed that he used to drink ’18 bottles of beer in one sitting’.

During a conversation with Mid Day, Javed recalled how he shifted from whiskey to beer and then rum. “I got allergic to whiskey. Then, I thought that I must have only beer. However, I used to drink 18 bottles of beer in only one sitting. Fir mujhe laga ki yaar yeh kya pet phoola raha hun main apna (Why am I increasing my belly fat with beer)? So, I quit it and started drinking rum.”

The lyricist-screenwriter also revealed that he didn’t look for anyone to accompany him while drinking alcohol. “I didn’t even need any company. Koi hai toh achi baat hai, nahi toh main akele pee lunga (It’s great if someone is around or I used to drink alone),” he elaborated.

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In an interview with Sapan Verma earlier, Javed Akhtar had admitted that his marriage with ex-wife Honey Irani failed because of his alcohol addiction. “I regret the failure of my first marriage. It could have been saved. But it was my irresponsible attitude, my drinking… When you are drunk, you take impulsive decisions, you start fighting about certain things which are not such big issues. Ye sab galtiyaan toh hui hai mujhse (These are the mistakes that I have made),” he said.

He had also spoken about giving up alcohol, saying, “The few good things I have done in life included quitting alcohol. July 31, 1991, was the last time I drank. I never took a sip of champagne after that. Not even during celebratory cheers.”

In addition, Javed Akhtar’s wife and actor Shabana Azmi had also opened up about her experience of dealing with her husband’s alcoholism. “It was very difficult. He had decided that he wouldn’t be able to live longer and do creative work anymore if he didn’t quit drinking like this,” she shared.

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