‘No One Is Forcefully Putting Drugs In Our Mouths!’: ‘Masaan’ Actress Shweta Tripathi On Kangana Ranaut’s Allegations On Bollywood

Shweta Tripathi said that Kangana Ranaut’s claim that 99 per cent of Bollywood is on drugs is an incorrect generalisation. Read on.

New Delhi: Bollywood actress Shweta Tripathi began her career in the film industry as a production assistant and associate director. She gained recognition with the movie ‘Masaan’ where she played the role of the protagonist’s love interest. Her two recent digital releases ‘Cargo’ and ‘The Gone Game’ are quite impressive. She also appeared in the popular web series ‘Mirzapur’. Recently, while giving an interview to IANS, she opened up on the ongoing debate of ‘drug cartel’ in Bollywood and said that no one is forcing someone to have drugs. “I think narratives doing the rounds that half of the people of the film industry are drug addicts, that female actresses are sleeping around to get work, and outsiders can make their space in the 'big bad world of cinema' only after compromising make for great and interesting scripts. No, that is not how we work here in Bollywood”, said the ‘Gone Kesh’ actress to IANS. Shweta added, “Trust me when I say this, no one is forcefully putting drugs in our mouths! If a youngster wants to get into drugs, they will do it anyway -- whether in Mumbai or in any small town of the country. It has nothing to do with the city of Mumbai. I want to tell all parents it is important to keep a check on the upbringing of their children, with the moral compass in the right direction, as well as their mental health.” The actress also pointed out what leads the youngsters into the world of darkness when they actually arrive in the city to fulfil their dreams. She was quoted saying by IANS, “I think when we pack our bags and come to Mumbai, our parents should ask if we are fine instead of telling to give up on the initial struggle that we all go through. If we are constantly asked about how much money we earn and are told that our struggle is nothing but a waste of time, it really creates a different kind of mental pressure on any budding talent. It is not about consuming drugs. It is about the issues they face, which in turn lead them into the world of darkness and addiction and mental health issues. I think that should be addressed, instead of defaming an industry.” Stay tuned for more updates.