Several personalities associated with the glamorous film industry might find themselves facing embarrassing questions today about drug abuse and the ways several of these substances that induce a ‘high’ are peddled.
It comes to light that even as early as the mid or late seventies, several actors were addicted to a drug called ‘Pethidine’. Now, this drug is said to be a powerful pain-killer; said to have been used as an anaesthesia during surgical procedures.
A casual chat with a former Minister, who had quite a name back then even as a medical practitioner, revealed interesting details. There was a legendary comedian in those times – one among top three in the Telugu film industry who used to frequent Hyderabad, driving down by road or catching a train from Chennai for shootings. And he was an addict beyond repair.
There was a famous baddie, a villain who appeared in many Telugu films that had a tremendous impact over audiences. He was known for his roles in mythological films too. This guy fell a prey to ‘Pethidine’ after his leg was amputated.
Interestingly, the doctor said there were two other women – a heroine, who acted in over 300 movies in Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, Malayalam and Hindi and was noted for her dancing skills and a character artiste – who innocently fell a prey to the same drug. How did these four, to name just a few, come to meet this particular doctor ? “In those pre-corporate hospital days, there was this concept of a ‘family doctor’ and referrals would draw patients to them like moths to the flame ,” said the medical practitioner.
The names of all these four cannot be mentioned for the simple reason that they are no more. But they were all helped with ‘Pethidine’, an ampoule of which used to come to the said practitioner at a cost of ‘five annas’ an ampoule of one or two millilitres each.
“These drugs used to sell in the market at one rupee and 10 annas but I used to give a dozen or so ampoule every time they visited me,” said the practitioner, signing off on a regretful note. In those days, even top actors used to live a life of penury !
