Kevin Hart says fame is 'biggest drug' and thanks God for helping him survive near-fatal crash

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Kevin Hart is gravely aware of how lucky he is to be alive, almost 3.5 years after his nearly fatal car accident in 2019.

"I believe in God, I'm not as spiritual as some may be, but I'm very thankful for the life God has allowed me to live and the opportunities I've been able to embark upon," the comedian and movie star told Jay Shetty during his "On Purpose" podcast. 

"But I got a lot more appreciation after life was almost gone. Right, like? Do you really appreciate your toes? Do you really appreciate your fingers? Like, do you really think about your movement, your joints, vision, smell? Do you really think about how fortunate and lucky you are?"

While Hart acknowledges he has always been "a transparent and authentic person," his life got significantly more real when he almost lost it all.

Kevin Hart talks about the car accident that almost cost him his life in 2019. (Mike Coppola)

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"I really almost died," he said of the September 2019 crash that resulted in significant injuries. It was later revealed that the car Hart had been traveling in lost control due to reckless driving. 

"I didn't even have everything dialed up for if said thing were to happen," the 43-year-old said of having his affairs in order at the time of the accident. "I'm out here, I'm just roaming. I'm out here aimlessly living and I'm moving so fast. I've yet to grasp the true concept and reality of responsibility."

Hart's near-death experienced prompted the father of four to get his "responsibilities in order."

"Because if that had of been, there would have been a lot of people with their hands up as to what, how, when? Fame is great, the lights are great. Kevin Hart, Kevin Hart, Kevin Hart. Number one, number one, number one. I was in that room with my godd--- wife, my brother and my kids. And you look around, you've got a lot of friends, you've got a lot of people who love you, but then you start to – ‘What really matters?’ That's when my mindset started to change. That's when you go ‘OK, my approach to just me and working on me – it needs to be different.’"

Kevin Hart talks about the changes he made to his life after his accident. (Jon Kopaloff)

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Since his accident, Hart said he's actively tried to shift his priorities.

"I've contradicted myself a lot since," he admitted of trying to handle his urge to work as well as wanting to spend quality time with his family.

"The biggest drug – it's not cocaine, it's not heroin. It's not Molly or opioids. Biggest drug is fame. Anything you want, everything you want, it's a thing. And if you can't handle this thing, the consequences attached are severe. Do you know you and are you OK with you. If you are not, it'll break you," he told Shetty.

"Boy, you better put your hands on these people and make sure," he said of the decisions he makes and how it relates to his family. "You better make sure that you are giving the time that you said you would when you were in that time of solace."

Kevin Hart has four children between his two marriages. (Robin L Marshall/WireImage)

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"You better talk to yourself, you better have conversations… For me, it was about personal evolvement after that accident. And I'm still trying, man, it's the biggest battle," he said of his continued growth.

Hart also said he has come to accept that "I'm going to lose and win in this battle and this battle is not over until the day that I'm in the ground."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.