Bigg Boss OTT 2: Pooja Bhatt opens up about overcoming alcohol addiction at the age of 44; highlights gender disparity in society
Pooja Bhatt, initially expected to be a panelist on Bigg Boss OTT 2, surprised everyone by joining the show as a contestant. In a recent episode, the accomplished actress-director shared her journey of battling addiction and achieving sobriety at the age of 44.
During a conversation with fellow contestant Cyrus Broacha, who also struggled with alcohol addiction and quit drinking at the age of 46, Pooja expressed her decision to be transparent about her struggles with addiction and recovery, despite facing criticism.
She stated, “I came to realize that I had a drinking problem. That’s why I openly shared my addiction and my choice to quit drinking. In our society, addiction, and recovery are seen as a man’s domain. Men are given the license to openly talk about alcohol addiction and their journey toward recovery. On the other hand, women are discouraged from openly consuming alcohol, so their recovery is also kept behind closed doors. Since I used to drink openly, I questioned why I should recover in secrecy.”
Pooja emphasized her desire to be honest and open with the public, saying, “People used to label me as an alcoholic, but I decided to reclaim my identity as a recovering alcoholic.”
In the same episode, a disagreement between Cyrus Broacha and Puneet Superstar regarding toilet cleaning led to tension among the housemates. The situation escalated to the point that when asked by Bigg Boss whether Puneet should be evicted from the house, everyone agreed.