Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt and his daughter, actor-director Pooja Bhatt launched Samarpan, a centre for alcohol and drug de-addiction near Pune. The guest of honour was Narendra Baldota, CMD of Baldota Group. Psychotherapist Dr Azhar Hakim spoke about the inception of Samarpan, which means surrender and the services the centre offers. Martin Peters talked about setting up a world-class rehab program.

This 28-day program is focused on addiction recovery. The clients staying at the centre recover in a modern setting. Samarpan is built in a colonial style of architecture offering modern amenities. It’s located away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Mahesh Bhatt said, “Even after reaching the heights of success and fame, I felt a sense of emptiness, and was addicted to alcohol. When my daughter, Shaheen was born, I returned home after drinking. When I took her in my arms, she turned away because I was smelling of alcohol. It’s been 34 years, and I haven’t had a sip of alcohol,” he adds.

Mahesh says that Dr Rahul Bajpai, COO, didn’t invite them because of their celebrity status, but because they recovered from alcoholism.

Pooja says, “Generally people introduce me as an actress, activist or filmmaker. But they should say I recovered from alcohol addiction.” She goes on to say that while she is remembered for her role of an alcoholic’s daughter in the film Daddy (1989), it was a message from her father that changed her life. “He said, ‘If you love me then you should love yourself.’ I became emotional and gave up alcohol that day,” she says.

Samarpan seeks to aid a 360-degree transformation in individuals by helping them overcome mental blocks, providing a support system, imbuing a sense of hope and ensuring they regain their zest for life. To offer the best outcomes, Samarpan has a team of certified psychiatrists, clinical psychologists and counsellors trained in the US, UK and India, as qualified healthcare and wellness experts.