Chhota shehar aur bada shehar nahi hota, chhoti soch aur badi soch hoti hai , jo jaha se bada sapna dekh paaye (It does not matter where you are from a small city or a big- your thought, big or small, is what matters, anyone who can dream big irrespective of his location; will make it big in life.)
This was how Sushant Singh Rajput described his idea of progress, as he interacted with local media after a brief spell of cricket practice at Bihar’s Saharsa district when he last visited the state in May 2019.
It was not only what Sushant said, but also the air of quiet, happy confidence which he exuded, that characterized him. The smile with which he interacted with the locals a year ago, is now haunting the people in Bihar, who find it extremely difficult to accept that such a positive man can commit suicide.
What Sushant said about Badi Soch not only underlined what he was, but also, how he reached the stature with sheer hard work and perseverance. Sushant Singh Rajput was a very bright student from Bihar, who cleared an engineering entrance exam before dropping out to pursue a career in acting.
He began his journey from television, by starring in Balaji soap Pavitra Rishta, and then rose to stardom with memorable performances. He made a successful transition from television to films in the year 2013, by starring in Kai Po Che, his Bollywood debut. The ease with which he played intense characters, made Sushant stand out in Bollywood for his versatility and nuanced performances.
Sushant had visited Bihar last year to attend a puja at Maldiha village in Purnea district, from where he belongs. It was Sushant’s first visit to his native village in 17 years since the family moved to Delhi in 2002, after the tragic death of his mother Usha Singh. Since then, Sushant, who was youngest in his family, was looked after by his four elder sisters.
On Sunday (June 14), the day when the 34-year-old actor committed suicide at his Mumbai residence, a large crowd gathered at Sushant’s house in Rajiv Nagar, Patna. This is where his mother had also passed away in 2002. His father KK Singh, a retired government employee, was inconsolable and was in no position to react. His old friends who stayed in his neighbourhood recall him as a humble person, who recognised all his childhood friends when he last visited here in 2019. Some of the neighbours in Patna even demanded a deeper probe into the untimely death of the talented actor.
BJP MLA Neeraj Kumar Bablu, a cousin of Sushant who accompanied the Bollywood actor during his Bihar visit last year, said he is devastated by the loss. Sushant had visited the state and attended a special puja which was done to fulfil the wishes of his late mother.
Sushant Singh Rajput was born on January 21, 1986, in Patna, Bihar. He did his schooling from St. Karen's High School in Patna and then from Kulachi Hansraj Model School in New Delhi.