Actor Arshad Warsi recalls heart-breaking moment of refusing water to his dying mother in hospital

Actor Arshad Warsi recently opened up about one of the most painful experiences of his life, losing both his parents at the age of 14. The Munna Bhai MBBS actor, known for his humour and grounded personality, spoke about a heartbreaking childhood memory that still lingers with him decades later. Appearing on Raj Shamani’s podcast, Arshad shared how that tragedy shaped him and made him grow up too soon.

Arshad Warsi on losing both parents at 14

The actor revealed that his mother was suffering from kidney failure and undergoing regular dialysis. During that period, doctors had warned the family not to let her drink water. “She would keep asking for it, but I wasn’t allowed to give her any,” he recalled, describing it as one of the hardest moments of his life. Her health kept deteriorating, and one night, she called out for him again, but he still had to say no. She passed away that same night.



Arshad admitted that the memory has stayed with him ever since, calling it one of the most painful images from his childhood. For a long time, he struggled with guilt, wondering if he should have disobeyed the doctors and given her water one last time. “Sometimes I think maybe I should have just given it to her,” he reflected, adding that as a child, he was too young to question medical advice.

Over time, the actor gained perspective. He said he now understands that families often make such decisions based on their own fear and guilt rather than what might bring peace to the person who is suffering. “If I had given her water and she had passed away right after, I would’ve blamed myself all my life. But today, I feel I should have done it,” he said.

Arshad also spoke about the emotional and financial struggles that followed after losing both parents. His father’s business had already been declining, forcing the family to move from a large house to smaller ones over time. “Everything kept getting smaller, our home, our comfort, our security,” he recalled. After his parents’ deaths, Arshad said he barely cried because he wanted to “be a man” and handle things on his own. The grief only hit him weeks later when he finally broke down.

The actor, who spent much of his early life in a boarding school, said he doesn’t have many memories of his parents. Losing them young meant that he had to mature quickly and find his own way in the world.

Arshad Warsi's upcoming projects

Despite such a difficult start, Arshad went on to become one of Bollywood’s most loved and versatile performers. After the success of Jolly LLB 3 with Akshay Kumar, he recently appeared in the ZEE5 crime thriller Bhagwat – Chapter One: Raakshas alongside Jitendra Kumar and Aryan Khan's debut directorial The Ba***ds Of Bollywood. He will next be seen in Masti 4 and Shah Rukh Khan’s upcoming action film King.