Janhvi Kapoor’s viral interview sparks addiction rumours, Amaha team steps in to call out twisted claims

Actor Janhvi Kapoor has come under online scrutiny after portions of her recent interview were widely circulated and interpreted as a confession about alcohol addiction. The claims gained traction across social media, prompting a response from the mental health initiative she is associated with, which clarified that her statements were taken out of context.

The actor had appeared on Raj Shamani’s podcast, where she spoke about addiction from the perspective of a caregiver. She discussed the emotional toll on families supporting individuals dealing with dependency. During the conversation, she also briefly shared a personal phase during the COVID period when she drank more frequently following a difficult experience.

“I am not a frequent drinker. I drink maybe every couple of months. But during COVID, there was a phase of one year. I wouldn't say I was addicted or abusing alcohol, but I was drinking frequently. And this was after a very traumatic experience in my life,” she said during the podcast.

Janhvi further clarified her stance in the same interaction, stating that she did not identify as someone struggling with addiction. She explained that she eventually stopped because she was uncomfortable with its effects. “And I did not like what it was doing to my body. I did not like how I was feeling when I was waking up. That feeling of the hangover gives me the ick,” she added.

Despite this, several online posts reportedly presented her remarks as an admission of alcohol dependence. Addressing the situation, the organisation she is working with issued a statement highlighting concerns over how the interview was reported and shared online. “We at Off The Rocks & Amaha have noticed certain media pages misrepresenting content associated with this initiative and Janhvi Kapoor. This is deeply concerning,” the statement read.

It further clarified, “We want to be clear, Janhvi Kapoor is part of this conversation as a caregiver and ally, not as someone who has had any personal experience of addiction or alcohol dependence.”

The statement also criticised misleading narratives. “Such misrepresentation not only diminishes her role, but also undermines and disrespects the real, lived experiences of those battling addiction and those supporting them. Let's not trivialise efforts to lend a healing hand to a critical problem by misleading information for the sake of click bait.”

Calling for responsible reporting, it added, “We strongly call upon media outlets, digital platforms, and individuals to report with integrity and ensure conversations around addiction are handled with the sensitivity they deserve. Misinformation in this space is harmful, irresponsible and disrespectful to the very community this dialogue aims to support.”

During the podcast, Janhvi also reflected on how her understanding of addiction evolved, adding that she stayed away from alcohol for over a year after learning about its impact.