Celebrating nearly five years of Sobriety, Pooja Bhatt says she found "the love of her life" in recovery

Pooja Bhatt, an actor-filmmaker, is rejoicing as she reaches the five-year mark of her Sobriety. She has previously admitted to struggling with alcoholism and has been open about her recovery. Pooja recalled a time when she “chase” love and said that a few years ago, she found the “love of (her) life” - Sobriety - in an Instagram post.

“I can’t remember a time when I’ve not been in love. With people, yes...but more so with the very idea of love. I looked for love everywhere I went. Chased it down unfamiliar avenues in the dead of night & even across countries, borders, continents,” she wrote.

“Have a lot of myself to attribute to the ones who loved me back & especially the ones that didn’t. I can’t blame anyone for failing me because the truth is I, more often than not, failed myself. And then, one day, the universe introduced me to the love of my life - Sobriety. And the need for validation from any other source ebbed. A demanding yet fulfilling lover, Sobriety breaks down your defenses, bares & reveals your soul, calls out any and all bulls**t, yet clasps your hand tight & ensures you make it through many uncertain nights, filling your dawn with such unimaginable light when you do the most revolutionary thing - say NO to yourself,” she added.

Pooja described her sobriety relationship as “deeply gratifying.” It helped her overcome “vicious storms,” cope with loss, and stay grounded “through a supposed revival of fortune and fame,” she said.

“There is no room for a third in my life at this point. My priority for the first time ever, is myself. My emotional health comes first. Sobriety, recovery gets first priority. And because recovery, like love, is selfish no matter what people say, my choice is clear- it is SINGLE BLESSEDNESS all the way!”

Pooja made her acting come back after more than a decade with Sadak 2, which marked the return of her filmmaker father Mahesh Bhatt to directing. She appeared in the Netflix series Bombay Begums earlier this year.