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Konkona Sen Sharma Shares Her 5-Step Journey to Quit Bidis and Cigarettes

  //health-fitness.news-articles.net/content/2025/ .. 5-step-journey-to-quit-bidis-and-cigarettes.html
  Published in Health and Fitness on Tuesday, December 2nd 2025 at 23:31 GMT by TheHealthSite

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Konkona Sen Sharma on Her Smoking Habit – Five Simple Ways to Quit Bidis and Cigarettes

In an exclusive interview with The Health Site, Bollywood actress Konkona Sen Sharma opens up about a habit that has haunted her for years—smoking. While the actress is widely celebrated for her nuanced performances in films such as Barfi! and Raat Akeli Hai, she admits that she was once a regular smoker of bidis and cigarettes, a habit that she eventually fought hard to break. The article not only chronicles her personal journey from smoker to quit‑smoker but also offers readers five practical, easy‑to‑implement strategies that helped her stop smoking. The piece is aimed at anyone looking to quit, especially those who are familiar with bidis, the small, hand‑rolled tobacco sticks popular in India.

1. The Background: Why the Habit Started

Sen Sharma explains that she began smoking in her early twenties, influenced by friends and the pervasive “smoker’s” culture on sets and social circles. “It started as a way to relieve stress and was then accepted as part of my persona,” she says. She also admits that in the 2000s, bidis were inexpensive and widely available, which made it easy for even casual smokers to get hooked. The article references a study from the World Health Organization that notes bidis contain up to 50 mg of nicotine, a significantly higher dose than regular cigarettes.

2. The Turning Point: Realizing the Danger

Around the time she was filming Bhediya, a role that required her to be on set for extended hours, the actress began noticing health issues—persistent coughing, wheezing, and a dramatic drop in stamina during scenes. After a routine health check, her doctor warned her about the risk of lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and even heart problems. “That was a wake‑up call,” Sen Sharma says. She recalls a moment of panic when she saw a photograph of her own chest X‑ray, where the lungs were mottled and less clear. She decided that she would not let her career—and her life—become the victim of nicotine.

3. The 5 Simple Ways She Used to Quit

Below is a summary of the five steps she highlighted, which are also supported by health professionals and research:

The article further elaborates on how each of these steps works on a biological level. For instance, nicotine replacement patches help by binding to nicotinic receptors in the brain, thereby reducing the “high” that leads to addiction.

4. Practical Tips for Those Trying to Quit

The article turns the strategy into actionable advice for readers:

1. Mark Your Quit Date on a Calendar – and share it with friends or family.
2. Track Your Cravings – note when they happen and what triggers them.
3. Swap the Habit for a New One – chewing gum, drinking water, or doing a short walk.
4. Create a Support Network – whether it’s a friend, family member, or a quit‑smoking support group.
5. Use Over‑the‑Counter NRT Wisely – patches, lozenges, or inhalers can be very effective for the first 8–12 weeks.

She also advises readers to be patient and to celebrate small victories. “The first 24 hours is the hardest, but if you stay consistent, you’ll notice a drop in cravings,” she says.

5. The Health Context: Why Bidis are More Dangerous

To help readers grasp the stakes, the article includes a brief health overview. Bidis, the hand‑rolled cigarettes common in South Asia, deliver more smoke per gram than conventional cigarettes. Consequently, they expose smokers to higher levels of tar, nicotine, and carcinogenic substances. A recent International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health article cited in the piece found that bidi smokers have a 30 % higher risk of lung cancer compared to regular cigarette smokers. This data underscores the urgency of quitting, especially for those who are unaware of the differences between bidis and cigarettes.

6. A Closing Thought: From Actress to Advocate

Concluding the interview, Sen Sharma reflects on how the experience changed her worldview. “I’ve become a vocal advocate for quitting smoking and encouraging people, especially women, to seek help,” she says. The article ends by reminding readers that quitting is not merely a personal decision but also a public health necessity. “If you’re a smoker, you’re not only harming yourself but also the people around you who may be exposed to second‑hand smoke,” she adds.

In Summary

The piece from The Health Site offers an intimate look at how Konkona Sen Sharma’s personal battle with smoking became a catalyst for change. By sharing her journey—from the allure of bidis to the pain of early health warnings, and finally to a structured quitting plan—the article gives readers concrete, evidence‑based steps to break free from nicotine. It serves both as a cautionary tale and a hopeful guide for anyone looking to breathe easier.