Bigg Boss OTT 2: Pooja Bhatt talks about overcoming alcohol addiction at 44; highlights the gender disparity in society
Pooja Bhatt, who was 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 battled 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 realized I had a drinking problem. That’s why I shared openly about my addiction and my choice to quit drinking. In our society, addiction and recovery are seen as a man’s domain. Men are given permission to talk openly about alcohol addiction and their journey to recovery. On the other hand, women are discouraged from drinking alcohol openly, so their recovery is also kept behind closed doors. Since I used to drink openly, I wondered why I should recover secretly.”
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 claim my identity as a recovering alcoholic.”
In the same episode, a disagreement between Cyrus Broacha and Puneet Superstar over cleaning the toilet led to tension among the residents. The situation escalated to the point where when asked by Bigg Boss if Puneet should be evicted from the house, everyone agreed.