Actor Narayani Shastri claims rampant MDMA, cocaine drug use in TV industry
Actor Narayani Shastri has claimed cocaine and MDMA are common in television parties and on sets. Her remarks also pointed to delayed shoots and a wider normalisation of substance use in the entertainment industry.
Actor Narayani Shastri has spoken about what she described as a growing drug culture in the television industry, claiming that “cocaine and MDMA” are common and that substance use is often treated as normal in entertainment circles.
The actor said that she had seen such behaviour firsthand and also admitted that she had experimented with drugs in the past.
In an interview with Siddharth Kannan for his YouTube channel, Shastri said parties in the industry have changed over the years. According to her, where there was once a fixed budget for alcohol, there is now a budget for illegal drugs.
She said drug use is handled discreetly at bigger parties, while at smaller and more intimate gatherings, “everyone knows that everyone does stuff”.
Recalling what she had seen, Shastri said, “Earlier, there would be a budget for alcohol at parties. Now there’s a budget for drugs. I was shocked when I saw this. That’s why I stopped partying many years ago, because now the parties are not about dancing; they are something else completely I don’t know these people personally who do drugs but I have seen people doing stuff.”
When asked what kind of drugs are used at such parties, she said “cocaine and MDMA” are common.
Shastri also spoke about her own past experimentation. She said, “I have done everything in my life but I have done it as an experiment, to see what happens when you do something.”
The actor highlighted that she did not become addicted because she tried drugs only once. The actor also said she had alcohol only once so that she would know how it feels if someone ever spiked her drink.
During the interaction, Shastri was asked whether actors consume illegal drugs on sets. She said it happens “all the time” and added that there have been instances when “shoots have been cancelled because the actor is not in a condition to shoot”. She recalled waiting four hours for a shoot to begin because an actor “was not in a condition to even stand up”.
The actor revealed that producers are often left in a difficult position, as replacing an actor could affect both the show and the character’s image, leaving them with little choice but to contact the actor’s family so that the shoot can stay on track.
Shastri made her television debut on DD with Kahani Saat Pheron Ki. She first became known for Koi Apna Sa and later became a household name with Kkusum and Piya Ka Ghar.
She has also been associated with serials and shows including Kyun Ki, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Namak Haraam, Mamta, Rishton Ka Chakravyuh and Nach Baliye.
Actor Narayani Shastri has spoken about what she described as a growing drug culture in the television industry, claiming that “cocaine and MDMA” are common and that substance use is often treated as normal in entertainment circles.
The actor said that she had seen such behaviour firsthand and also admitted that she had experimented with drugs in the past.
In an interview with Siddharth Kannan for his YouTube channel, Shastri said parties in the industry have changed over the years. According to her, where there was once a fixed budget for alcohol, there is now a budget for illegal drugs.
She said drug use is handled discreetly at bigger parties, while at smaller and more intimate gatherings, “everyone knows that everyone does stuff”.
Recalling what she had seen, Shastri said, “Earlier, there would be a budget for alcohol at parties. Now there’s a budget for drugs. I was shocked when I saw this. That’s why I stopped partying many years ago, because now the parties are not about dancing; they are something else completely I don’t know these people personally who do drugs but I have seen people doing stuff.”
When asked what kind of drugs are used at such parties, she said “cocaine and MDMA” are common.
Shastri also spoke about her own past experimentation. She said, “I have done everything in my life but I have done it as an experiment, to see what happens when you do something.”
The actor highlighted that she did not become addicted because she tried drugs only once. The actor also said she had alcohol only once so that she would know how it feels if someone ever spiked her drink.
During the interaction, Shastri was asked whether actors consume illegal drugs on sets. She said it happens “all the time” and added that there have been instances when “shoots have been cancelled because the actor is not in a condition to shoot”. She recalled waiting four hours for a shoot to begin because an actor “was not in a condition to even stand up”.
The actor revealed that producers are often left in a difficult position, as replacing an actor could affect both the show and the character’s image, leaving them with little choice but to contact the actor’s family so that the shoot can stay on track.
Shastri made her television debut on DD with Kahani Saat Pheron Ki. She first became known for Koi Apna Sa and later became a household name with Kkusum and Piya Ka Ghar.
She has also been associated with serials and shows including Kyun Ki, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Namak Haraam, Mamta, Rishton Ka Chakravyuh and Nach Baliye.
Actor Narayani Shastri has spoken about what she described as a growing drug culture in the television industry, claiming that “cocaine and MDMA” are common and that substance use is often treated as normal in entertainment circles.
The actor said that she had seen such behaviour firsthand and also admitted that she had experimented with drugs in the past.
In an interview with Siddharth Kannan for his YouTube channel, Shastri said parties in the industry have changed over the years. According to her, where there was once a fixed budget for alcohol, there is now a budget for illegal drugs.
She said drug use is handled discreetly at bigger parties, while at smaller and more intimate gatherings, “everyone knows that everyone does stuff”.
Recalling what she had seen, Shastri said, “Earlier, there would be a budget for alcohol at parties. Now there’s a budget for drugs. I was shocked when I saw this. That’s why I stopped partying many years ago, because now the parties are not about dancing; they are something else completely I don’t know these people personally who do drugs but I have seen people doing stuff.”
When asked what kind of drugs are used at such parties, she said “cocaine and MDMA” are common.
Shastri also spoke about her own past experimentation. She said, “I have done everything in my life but I have done it as an experiment, to see what happens when you do something.”
The actor highlighted that she did not become addicted because she tried drugs only once. The actor also said she had alcohol only once so that she would know how it feels if someone ever spiked her drink.
During the interaction, Shastri was asked whether actors consume illegal drugs on sets. She said it happens “all the time” and added that there have been instances when “shoots have been cancelled because the actor is not in a condition to shoot”. She recalled waiting four hours for a shoot to begin because an actor “was not in a condition to even stand up”.
The actor revealed that producers are often left in a difficult position, as replacing an actor could affect both the show and the character’s image, leaving them with little choice but to contact the actor’s family so that the shoot can stay on track.
Shastri made her television debut on DD with Kahani Saat Pheron Ki. She first became known for Koi Apna Sa and later became a household name with Kkusum and Piya Ka Ghar.
She has also been associated with serials and shows including Kyun Ki, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Namak Haraam, Mamta, Rishton Ka Chakravyuh and Nach Baliye.
