Ranbir Kapoor, Shahid Kapoor to Aditya Rawal: Actors Who Played Drug Addicts On-Screen
By Benson | Updated: February 16, 2026 17:28 IST2026-02-16T17:23:44+5:302026-02-16T17:28:19+5:30
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In Baaghi 2, Prateik Babbar showed that he might not be the loudest in the room, but his conviction to his roles speaks volumes. In Baaghi 2, Prateik is a brash, menacing and a psychotic drug addict who brought an incredible sense of believability, making the audience notice his ability to play a primary antagonist.
Shahid Kapoor took a deep dive into portraying Tommy Singh aka Gabru, a drug addict, in his remarkable film, Udta Punjab, surrounding drug abuse by the youth in Punjab. Shahid, known for his off-beat screen choices, brought a deep sense of transparency in depicting the psychological and physical challenges faced by a drug addict. And so far, it stands as one of his most beloved performances.
In Sanju, Ranbir Kapoor depicted the journey of a drug addict - starting from the addiction to leaving it behind. From the tremors, numbness to the internalized pain while trying to leave it behind, Ranbir Kapoor proved he’s an actor a class apart!
Aditya Rawal stepped into the shoes of a drug addict in his latest OTT release, Dalal, a psychological crime thriller. The actor brought a striking sense of realism by understanding and researching about addiction and its effects, how one’s ego breaks down, how one becomes vulnerable and then tries to shield that vulnerability. His understanding of the concept led him to pull off the character with striking conviction.
In Dev D, Abhay Deol’s character seeks refuge in drugs and alcohol. Celebrated for getting into the skin of the characters, Abhay blurred the lines between a psychiotic drug addict and internalized menace.
