Today, Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan is celebrated for his disciplined and modest way of life, a stark contrast to his earlier years. In a revealing 1980 interview with India Today, the megastar frankly discussed his past, which included significant smoking, regular alcohol consumption, and a meat-inclusive diet.
“I do not smoke, drink, or eat meat. It is not a religious issue, but a matter of taste,” he stated. He continued, “I used to consume meat, drink alcohol, and smoke, but I have given all that up.” His decision to quit wasn’t rooted in religious convictions but rather in practical challenges, particularly the difficulty of sourcing vegetarian food while traveling internationally.
Bachchan also shared that dietary preferences never caused friction within his family. His wife, Jaya Bachchan, and his mother, Teji, both enjoyed non-vegetarian cuisine, while his father, Harivansh Rai Bachchan, maintained a lifelong vegetarian diet.
He further disclosed that during his time in Calcutta, he would smoke as many as 200 cigarettes daily. “Yes, 200,” he admitted. “But I quit after coming to Bombay. I drank excessively too, but some years ago, I realised I didn’t need it.” Bachchan also mentioned in the interview, “These habits no longer affect me, except when I’m shooting overseas, where finding vegetarian food can be quite a challenge.”
Professionally, Amitabh Bachchan remains highly active in the film industry. He was recently seen in the futuristic pan-India film Kalki 2898 AD (2024) and later reunited on screen with Rajinikanth in Vettaiyan (2024), their first collaboration since their 1991 hit, Hum.
