‘It Destroyed Everything’: What Piyush Mishra Said On His Alcohol Addiction

Piyush Mishra is one of the popular actors and singers in Indian cinema. Born in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, he went to the National School of Drama to study dramaturgy. He started his career with Hindi theatre. Piyush Mishra is recognised for his work as a film lyricist, actor and singer. Some of his notable songs include Arre Ruk Ja Re Bandeh in Black Friday, Aarambh Hai Prachand in Gulaal, Ik Bagal in Gangs of Wasseypur – Part 1, and Husna in MTV Coke Studio. Piyush Mishra once revealed how he grappled with alcohol addiction. He shared that during the 1980s and for approximately 20 years thereafter, he was addicted to alcohol. ‘That ‘alcohol phase’ destroyed everything, I wonder how I came out of that alive,’ Piyush Mishra said in an interview.

Interestingly, he got an offer to play the lead in Maine Pyar Kiya in 1989. The film, however, went to Salman Khan. In an interview with Lallantop, Piyush Mishra revealed that he turned down the offer.

Despite battling alcohol addiction for nearly two decades, Piyush Mishra spent his youth in the Delhi theatres. He then moved to Mumbai and there he started his career in the 2000s. He faced challenges and was mainly offered small roles. Piyush Mishra then became popular for his role in Vishal Bhardwaj’s film Maqbool (2003).

He then spent about eight years struggling in Mumbai. After this, he got an opportunity to write songs for Anurag Kashyap’s film Gulaal. He also grabbed a role in the film.

On the Kapil Sharma show, he shared that he went to Delhi to write the songs for Gulaal. Piyush Mishra said, “When Anurag asked me to write the songs for Gulaal, I said I’d go to Delhi to do it. Just get me a ticket to Delhi and some liquor.” Piyush Mishra then travelled to Delhi, composed the songs, and came back.

Piyush Mishra garnered acclaim for his role in Gangs of Wasseypur. The 61-year-old actor now performs globally and continues to showcase his acting prowess in films as well.