Culture Machine's digital channel 'Blush' and Bollywood actor Prateik Babbar have collaborated for the very first time for a unique video that exemplifies the need to minimize preconceived notions and judgmental criticism.
The video titled, '#DilSeAzaad' is a part of the Unblushed series and highlights the various social stigmas associated with addiction and how addicts who go clean are still considered an outcast in a society that is consumed by labels and stereotypes.
Due to the social stigma attached to addiction, many addicts are scared to come to forefront and embrace their problem due to the apprehension of how society will react if they do reach out for help.
The stigma is very real and so deeply seated in society that addicts fear that revealing they have an addiction will cause them more suffering than continuing to live a lie hiding and denying their substance abuse problem.
Addicted to our biases, we refuse to acknowledge that our biases become a new hurdle for the one who has strived to successfully overcome an agonizing battle.
Prateik Babbar who recently signed up for Ahmed Khan's 'Baaghi 2' and Anubhav Sinha's 'Mulk' stated, "Through this Blush video, I want people to understand that I wasn't born an addict and no one consumes drugs to get addicted.
I have moved mountains to overcome addiction and now drugs for me is like a bad chapter that is all over. If I have moved on , I would want the world to move on too and not stay addicted to my past. I believe acceptance and speaking can help change the face of addiction."
Adding, "By speaking out you can help people see the reality of addiction by educating others about the disease, and letting the world see that the stereotypes of people suffering from addiction are actually the exception rather than the rule. Accept that addiction is not a moral failing, and does not make you a bad person, even if you have made poor choices. Addiction recovery is possible, and acceptance is one of the first steps to get you there."
The team of Blush added, "The world needs to free themselves from biases and appreciate people like Prateik, who have left their tumultuous past behind them and are headed towards a more promising future. It was crucial for us to create a video which urges the youth to reach out to people who are in need of help as well as inspire those afflicted by the problem."
