Singer, actor and writer Piyush Mishra has often spoken openly about his past. He has never hidden his struggles. Over the years, he has talked about his long fight with alcoholism and the mistakes he made along the way. They also bring back memories of a serious allegation linked to his past.
Piyush Mishra battled alcohol addiction for nearly 20 years. It began in the 1980s and stayed with him until the early 2000s. Around 2005, he hit a low point. That was when he decided to seek help and change his life. Today, he openly calls alcohol the biggest regret of his life.
In an interview with Hindustan Times, Mishra spoke about how drinking affected his work and behaviour. “The biggest regret is about alcohol. Had I not drowned my life in alcohol and had more control over it in the initial stage itself, I would have achieved bigger things in my life… Intoxication kills creativity. And that (alcoholism) was a big mistake of my life and continues to be the biggest regret of my life.”
He added, “Shuru shuru mein chhodh deta ya control karta toh aaj alag hota aur bada kaam kiya hota (If I had quit it initially, things would have been different for me).”
When A Party Incident Triggered Serious Allegations On Piyush Mishra
Talk around Mishra’s past also revived memories of a 2014 incident. In 2018, a former newspaper staffer accused him of inappropriate behaviour at a party. The allegation came from Ketki Joshi, who shared her account on Facebook during the MeToo movement.
In her Facebook post, Joshi said she met Mishra at a party where he was the main guest. She claimed he “started light flirting in front of the 20-25 people” present and kept drinking as the evening went on. She alleged that he grabbed her hand and started rubbing his hands against hers.
She said the situation worsened later on the terrace. She wrote, “He suddenly stood up and took a step towards me. I sensed he wąs coming to hug me or grope me. I told in an authoritative raised voice, ‘Aap please baith jaaiye.”
According to her, others stepped in and took her away. She added that without their help, Mishra certainly would have groped or sexually assaulted her.
Mishra’s Response To The Controversy
Piyush Mishra responded to the allegations at the time through PTI. He said he did not clearly remember the incident. He also admitted he may have been drunk. “I do not remember the stated incident, as I was probably a few drinks down. But nevertheless, I would like to extend my apology for making the lady uncomfortable either with my words or actions.”
Piyush Mishra: Work Front
Despite the controversy, Piyush Mishra continues to be a respected figure in Indian cinema and theatre. He has earned praise for his acting in films like Gangs of Wasseypur, Maqbool, Tamasha, and Indian 2. His lyrics and dialogues in Gulaal, Black Friday, and Gangs of Wasseypur are also widely admired.
He was last seen in the 2025 film Crazxy. At present, he is busy with his musical tours. After releasing Tumhari Auqat Kya Hai, Mishra is now working on a novel titled Sirfira.
