She has been under the radar and on a break from films all of last year, but little did Shruti Haasan know that a statement in a recent Telugu talk show would put her back in the news. Talking about drinking, Shruti said, “I don’t drink anymore. It’s been two years. I live a sober life now.” But soon there were reports claiming how she was an alcoholic.“On the chat show, I mentioned that I don’t drink anymore and that I am sober. And the next thing I know is that it was blown out of proportion,” says a baffled Shruti, adding, “Drinking is part of today’s culture. There is no stigma attached to it. But I didn’t want to do it anymore. I want to live a sober life. I don’t judge people who drink. It’s strange that everybody drinks but nobody wants to talk about it. People don’t even admit that they have ever had a drink, which is ridiculous in 2019. And then, when I say I want to lead a sober life and not have that glass of wine, why is this turned into something else?” she questions.Last year, she took off to the UK and was on a year’s break from films, as she “needed to focus on music”. There, she performed at many prestigious events, which was “fulfilling”. “It has been amazing. In the UK, I didn’t know anyone, yet, I made a home away from home, made contacts in music and spent time writing music. It was so exciting to meet new people, who didn’t know me, so our interactions were refreshing. I will go back in December to do eight shows there. I am living my best life. I have had a great run in films but, for me, the definition of success is to be able to fulfil different facets of my personality. I took a break because I needed to redefine things for myself and take a breather,” she says.As she essentially stayed alone in London, Shruti says she would recommend that people try it if they want to change their state of mind.
