The way drugs became a part of his day
Being born to two legendary actors namely Smita Patil and Raj Babbar didn't save him from consuming drugs at night, like party-goers do as a superficial part of their lifestyle. "I was using it in the morning to get myself through the day. I needed it to exist. Perhaps, the most widespread delusion about addiction is the amount of time it can take for someone to become an addict. The cinemas tell you it happens right after the first hit, but addiction, like any disease, progresses," he writes in the letter.
How he moved to more addictive drugs
Not everyone who indulges in consuming drug gets addicted. Prateik did. What started as an amateur's stint with marijuana and hashish, led him to consuming heavier and more addictive drugs like acid, cocaine and more. Slowly, the inevitable aftereffects started showing up. Drugs caused him frequent hot and cold flashes every morning, apart from nausea and body aches.
When the joyride got over…
Sooner or later, sensibilities knocked the door. There came a time when Prateik started taking pity on himself. All this while, he was amid a fight with himself to fill the void that ate up all his happiness. But how can drug suffice for love? In attempt to gain what he didn't have, he was on the verge of losing everything he had. Health, a social life, himself... The 'joyride' got over and he was now tasting hell.
Prateik Babbar
But your story will end only how YOU choose to end it.
When he finally decided to seek help
The greatest and foremost tool of altering yourself is realisation. Prateik finally decided to seek professional help and was encouraged by his family to buck up and come back to normal life. However, it wasn't easy. A long and faithful habit that he developed deliberately, wouldn't leave him so easily. He was almost trying to defeat a monster inside, as he battled the addiction. Three weeks into the rehab, he was still to get rid of it. But he refused to give up.
Addiction-free… finally!
It's been a year. Prateik is now addiction-free. But his heart goes out to the ones who are yet battling. As he looks back, he says it is utmost important to not bottle up emotions and frustrations that could kill you slowly. Holding yourself together at bad times is the best thing you could do, instead of falling into addiction and seeking momentary freedom!
Prateik Babbar made a remarkable debut with ‘Jaane Tu Ya… Jaane Na’ in 2008, following which his performance in Kiran Rao’s ‘Dhobi Ghat’ became the talk of the town. Just when we thought Bollywood was in for another fresh talent, Prateik disappeared. Apart from ‘Ek Deewana Tha’ in 2012, we rarely saw him all these years. (Also Read: When ‘Chak De! India’ opened poorly, and SRK fled to London to escape the trauma)
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While B-Town got crowded with more and more new faces, many of us were used to his absence. We took no notice of it, until we learned of Prateik’s encounter with drug addiction and the horror that followed.
He recently wrote an open letter for a leading publication. Read his journey, and may be, live a bit of it too!
Journalist. Writer. Reader. Enthu cutlet. Mood-swing machine. Day dreamer. Sandwiched between ‘live life fully’ and ‘lose some weight’. Mantra of life: Love and love more.