Rapper-singer Honey Singh has opened up about one of the darkest chapters of his life, a severe substance addiction that derailed his career and nearly destroyed his peace of mind. According to a recent interview, Singh revealed that after quitting drugs in 2014, it nevertheless took him eight long years to completely rid his body of their effects.
Reflecting on his turbulent past, Honey Singh admitted that his drug use coincided with the peak of his fame. “The Honey Singh 15–20 years back was also very intelligent and ambitious, but he did one big mistake which was to do drugs. And he got influenced by drugs,” he told NDTV. He added, “It caused me a lot of harm, and today I tell all my younger brothers and sisters that they should especially stay away from drugs because they damage you so much slowly, and you don’t even realise it.”
He went on to explain that despite quitting drugs when he was diagnosed ill, recovery was far from immediate. “I quit drugs around 2014 … But even then, it still took me 8 years to recover. It just wouldn’t leave my system,” Singh said. He added poignantly, “I never want anyone, not even an enemy, to go through what I went through.”
The addiction also had a heavy personal cost. During the period roughly between 2012 and 2014, which should have been the most successful phase of his career, Singh avoided meeting his parents altogether. He said, “During my peak in 2012 to 2014 I had met my parents only 4–5 times because my mind was occupied by fame and money. I was touring the world and had forgotten them.” He admitted that part of this distance was an attempt to hide his addiction.
Singh’s ordeal reportedly included heavy use of substances, drugs and alcohol, and extreme lifestyle turbulence. In earlier interviews, he revealed instances of deep personal crisis, including mood swings and mental health struggles, which eventually compelled him to step away from the music industry entirely.
After years away from the spotlight, Honey Singh slowly began rebuilding his life and music. His return was marked by the release of the single Kalaastar in 2023, a sequel to his earlier hit Desi Kalakaar.
Now, as he prepares for a global comeback with his upcoming “My Story World Tour,” starting in Dubai in early 2026, Singh appears determined to turn his ordeal into a message of caution for younger generations. The singer-rapper is using his story to warn against the lure of substance abuse, underscoring how insidious and lasting its effects can be.
For many of his fans, Honey Singh’s journey, from meteoric rise to collapse and eventual revival, is as much about personal redemption as music. His candidness about his addiction, recovery and the scars it left behind offers a rare glimpse into the pressures of fame and the costly consequences of excess.
In a culture where success often demands constant performance, his story stands out as a sober reminder: talent and ambition can only endure when health and integrity are not compromised. As Honey Singh returns to the stage, he carries with him a renewed sense of humility, and a warning that for many, rock-bottom is not the end, but a beginning.