Veteran Bollywood actor Anupam Kher has opened up about deeply unsettling experiences with cannabis during his younger days, recounting episodes of intense fear and a profound loss of control. In a candid interview, the actor detailed how experimenting with marijuana and later consuming bhang led to frightening psychological effects that made him swear off the substances for good.
A Disorienting First Encounter with Marijuana
Speaking on the show Unfiltered by Samdish, Kher revisited an early experiment with marijuana. He described taking just a couple of drags before his perception of reality began to warp dramatically. "I think I must have taken two drags, and then I looked up at the sky," Kher recalled. He saw a plane taking off from an airport and became fixated on it, watching until it vanished into a tiny speck. His sense of time became completely distorted, leading him to believe he had watched the plane's entire journey until it landed at London's Heathrow Airport.
The disorientation continued. "I had gone crazy. And the same day, when I sat in my car, I felt as if the road was running or the car was running," he said, illustrating the severe sensory confusion he experienced. This initial encounter was a precursor to an even more overwhelming experience with another cannabis product.
The Overwhelming Bhang Episode at Drama School
Kher also shared memories of consuming bhang, a traditional Indian cannabis preparation, during his student days at the National School of Drama. This experience, which he labeled as frightening, left a lasting impression. "When I tried it, I swore I would never do it again, because I laughed for eight hours straight," he stated.
The situation escalated in his hostel. His intoxicated friends stood on a terrace, convinced that "the army is coming." Meanwhile, Kher felt utterly helpless and consumed by panic. "I kept telling them I would die laughing and begged them to save me," he revealed, highlighting the terrifying loss of autonomy. He later understood that impaired perception and broken communication fueled his distress, comparing the surreal feeling to scenes from Jim Carrey's film The Mask.
The Science Behind the Fear: Expert Explains THC's Impact
To understand what triggers such intense reactions, public health expert Dr. Jagadish Hiremath explained the neurochemical processes at play. He emphasized that the primary psychoactive compound, THC, binds to brain receptors responsible for memory, perception, coordination, and emotion.
"In first-time or low-tolerance users, the brain is not accustomed to this sudden surge of receptor activation," Dr. Hiremath explained. This disruption in normal neural communication can lead to exaggerated senses, time distortion, and emotional instability. When the prefrontal cortex struggles to interpret these altered signals, users can feel a terrifying loss of control or detachment from reality.
Dr. Hiremath further clarified why such experiences can spiral into paranoia. "These reactions usually occur when THC overstimulates areas of the brain linked to threat detection and emotional regulation," he said. Factors like pre-existing anxiety, stress, sleep deprivation, and genetics can heighten sensitivity. He strongly cautioned against unmonitored use, noting that recreational bhang or edibles often have unpredictable potency, which can easily lead to panic, paranoia, or dissociation without proper guidance.
Anupam Kher's account, dated from his interview in December 2025, serves as a personal cautionary tale about the potent psychological effects of cannabis, especially for inexperienced users. His vivid recollections, paired with medical insight, underscore the importance of understanding substance potency and individual susceptibility.
