Hrithik Roshan: If I can quit smoking, so can you

Actor gave up smoking three months ago; hasn't lit up since

Hrithik Roshan has given up smoking. It has been three months since his last cigerette. The actor says, "I wanted to give up smoking. I tried quitting five times before and failed. I tried nicotine patches and other methods, but nothing worked. I wanted to kick the habit so I began researching how to. I spoke to people who had quit, went online and read articles, saw testimonials of people on YouTube... I kept checking, and then finally I came across this book Alan Carr's Easy Way To Stop Smoking, I ordered that book and the day I finished the book was the day I smoked my last ciggie."

The best thing about the book is that it doesn't tell you to give up smoking. In fact, it encourages you to light up while reading, and tells you to enjoy it. It does not talk poorly about smoking, or lungs and cancer, which is the best part. But by the time you are nearing the end, you don't want to smoke anymore. It has worked for me, and I want more people to know about this and give up the habit. The book explains to you what addiction is and once you understand it, you are not addicted anymore." The book has helped international celebrities like Madonna, Anthony Hopkins and Ashton Kutcher to kick the habit.

Hrithik adds, "Yes, I have read testimonials by all these people. I hope people have an open mind. We cannot live as islands. We cannot have so much ego that a book cannot help us. We are here to help each other, we cannot survive by ourselves. People are around us to help us. In fact, I was so impressed with the book that I bought 20 copies and offered them to Shah Rukh Khan and Farhan Akhtar but they didn't want to read it.

When I told Salman about the book he pointed to his head and said, "It has to come from here." I agree. No one can force or influence you. It has to be your decision. Like it was for me. And I have failed five times before but this time I have given it up for good." Such is his willpower that he doesn't get tempted to smoke now, even when he is among people, blowing smoke rings around him. Guess the message that Duggu wants to put out there is: If I can, so can you!