Veteran Bollywood actor Anupam Kher has recently opened up about his unforgettable encounters with marijuana and bhang during his younger days, sharing hilarious anecdotes that ultimately led him to swear off such substances forever.
The Marijuana Experience That Felt Like Madness
In a candid conversation on the show Unfiltered by Samdish, the 68-year-old actor recalled his first experience with marijuana. Anupam revealed that after taking just two drags, he found himself staring at the sky, completely mesmerized by an airplane taking off from the airport.
"I kept watching it until it became a tiny dot in the sky," he laughed, adding, "And I think I kept looking at it until it must have landed at Heathrow Airport." The actor described feeling completely disconnected from reality, convinced he had "gone crazy."
The bizarre experience continued when he sat in his car later that day. "I felt as if the road was running or the car was running," he shared, emphasizing how the altered perception solidified his decision to never touch the substance again.
The National School of Drama Bhang Incident
Kher also recounted another memorable episode from his time studying at the National School of Drama (NSD), where he consumed bhang during Holi celebrations. The experience turned out to be equally overwhelming for the young actor.
"When I tried it, I swore I would never do it again, because I laughed for eight hours straight," he revealed. The situation escalated at the NSD hostel, where his batchmates, also under the influence, were standing on the terrace and dramatically informing the warden that "The army is coming."
Kher described feeling completely out of control, begging his friends to save him as he feared he would "die laughing." In retrospect, he realized he was speaking complete gibberish while high, comparing the experience to scenes from Jim Carrey's film The Mask.
Airport Security Scare with Kirron Kher
In another revealing anecdote from an earlier interview with Filmfare, Anupam shared a tense moment when US airport security discovered dhoop (incense) in his shaving kit and suspected it might be drugs.
The situation became more complicated when his wife, Kirron Kher, jokingly exclaimed loudly, "Charas lekar ghoom rahe ho?" (You're roaming around with hashish?). Anupam recalled telling her, "Agar main bach gaya inn logon se toh main bahar nikal ke divorce de dunga" (If I survive these people, I'll come out and divorce you).
The actor, who has been active in the film industry for 41 years since starting his career in the 1980s, has consistently maintained his stance against drugs despite working in an industry often accused of promoting narcotics. His recent appearance was in the film Tanvi the Great, which he also directed.
Kher's revelations come at a time when the film industry faces increased scrutiny regarding substance use, with his experiences serving as a cautionary tale about the effects of marijuana and cannabis products.
