Prateik Babbar shares why he started taking drugs at the age of 13, says Bollywood wasn't the reason

Bollywood actor Prateik Babbar, who is the son of politician Raj Babbar and late actress Smita Patil, has often opened up about his struggle with drug and substance abuse. While most people think that the glitzy world of Bollywood is what leads one to drugs, Babbar revealed in his case things were different. His first run-in with substance abuse was when he was just 13 years old.?

Prateik Babbar shares why he started taking drugs at the age of 13

For the unversed, Prateik lost his mother two weeks after his birth. Smita Patil had passed away at the age of 31 due to childbirth-related complications. He revealed he started taking drugs when he was in high school because of "disturbed childhood. "I was thirteen or twelve-and-a-half years old. It wasn’t because of the film industry. Unfortunately, I had a different kind of upbringing, and my family situation was a bit complicated, because of which, I started using drugs. It’s not that fame and money in films led me to it— I had already started using drugs then," he was quoted as saying by Bollywood Bubble.

Prateik even went to rehab and counselling. Since then, he has stayed sober and overcome the habit. In an earlier interview with Mid-Day, the actor who will be seen in?Khwaabon Ka Jhamela, had said, "My first real drug was a disturbed childhood. Constantly faced with internal dilemma, the voices in my head debating where I belong and who I am, drugs came disguised as a glitzy escape. As years went by, I got acquainted with the narcotic underbelly, which led me to my first run-in with drugs at the age of 13."

For the unversed,?Prateik Babbar was married to film producer Sanya Sagar in 2019. In?January 2023, they got divorced. He is now dating actress?actress Priya Banerjee. Talking about his relationship, he told TOI, "I was separated, going through divorce and Priya had broken off her engagement. It was then, when I slipped into her DMs in 2020. When we kissed first, it was game over. I knew it (she is the one). I was hesitant initially due to my divorce and how complicated it was. But?she is my home. I am more obsessed with her."

Also Read:?7 Celebs Who Bared All About Their Drug & Alcohol Addiction & Exposed The Ugly Side Of B-Town

For more news and updates from the world of?OTT, and?celebrities?from?Bollywood?and?Hollywood, keep reading?Indiatimes Entertainment.