Rapper and singer Yo Yo Honey Singh has opened up about his struggle with substance abuse and bipolar disorder, revealing that Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan and Akshay Kumar had repeatedly warned him about the path he was heading down during the peak of his career.
Speaking on the ABtalks podcast, Honey Singh reflected on his meteoric rise between 2011 and 2014 and admitted that fame, money and addiction had pushed him into what he described as a “demonic state of mind.”
“I was not happy. I was at my peak in 2013 and 2014. I was not in my senses,” the singer said. “When I made it, I used to walk differently, talk differently and disrespect everyone. I thought I had done everything on my own. I even used to call myself God.”
The singer acknowledged that he had become consumed by success at a young age while simultaneously battling heavy drug use.
“I was making money and becoming successful very young, and while doing that I was also doing drugs. I didn’t like that version of myself,” he added.
‘This is going to destroy you’
During the conversation, Honey Singh said several major Bollywood personalities had tried to caution him about his growing addiction and lifestyle.
The rapper recalled working closely with stars including Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and Akshay Kumar during the height of his fame.
“I don’t want to blame the entertainment industry for anything,” he said. “I got the opportunity to share screen space with legends and see their personal lives very closely at a young age.”
Calling the stars “simple people” with “no darkness in them,” Honey Singh said they often advised him to stay away from destructive habits.
“Especially Shah Rukh Khan and Akshay Kumar,” he revealed. “Shah Rukh Khan told me many times, ‘This is going to spoil you, finish you and destroy you.’”
Battle with addiction and recovery
Honey Singh was among the biggest music stars in India during the early 2010s, delivering several chartbusters before suddenly disappearing from the public eye.
Following the success of his hit song “Desi Kalakaar,” the rapper was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and struggled heavily with substance abuse.
In an earlier interview with Lallantop, Honey Singh admitted that his addiction spiralled out of control.
“I was drowning in drugs and alcohol, smoking 12-15 joints and downing bottles. I abandoned my family and lost control,” he had said. “Once I got so high that I bit a friend on his stomach eight times.”
The singer eventually stepped away from music, returned to Delhi and began recovery with the help of doctors and therapists.
After years away from the spotlight, Honey Singh made a comeback in 2023 with “Kalaastar,” a sequel to “Desi Kalakaar,” featuring Sonakshi Sinha.
More recently, he released his album “51 Glorious Days” and sang “Jhoom Sharabi” for the film De De Pyaar De 2 starring Ajay Devgn.
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