Sushant Singh Rajput died at the age of 34. (Photo: Sushant Singh Rajput/Facebook)
Actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s demise has sent shock waves across the Indian film and television industry. Sushant’s sister Shweta Singh Kriti on Wednesday penned a moving tribute for her brother on Facebook. She wrote, “Your twinkling eyes taught the world how to dream, ur innocent smile revealed the true purity of ur heart. you will always be loved mera Baby and so so much more…. Wherever ur mera baby stay happy….stay fulfilled and know that everyone loved, loves u and will always love you unconditionally.”
Sushant, who began his acting career with Ekta Kapoor’s Kis Desh Mein Hai Meraa Dil, became a household name with Pavitra Rishta. He made a crossover to films with Kai Po Che in 2013. In a career spanning over a decade, Sushant became part of several critical and commercial hits like MS Dhoni The Untold Story, Sonchiriya, Chhichhore, Detective Byomkesh Bakshy among more. He was last seen in Netflix film Drive (2019). His film Dil Bechara, helmed by good friend and casting director Mukesh Chhabra, is yet to be released. Filmmaker Rumy Jafry also revealed that Sushant was set to begin shooting for a romantic comedy, also starring rumoured girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty, once the lockdown was lifted.
Remembering working with Sushant in Sonchiriya, director Abhishek Chaubey shared how he did not care what other’s thought of him. “I always thought he was one of those guys who would not take things seriously. I know there are things being said, but I don’t buy it entirely that the industry treated him badly and he felt bad about it. Sushant was beyond all that. I felt he was comfortable in his own skin. He didn’t care what you thought about him. Nepotism in this industry affects actors much more than directors. He felt that. But it is one thing to say that it exists but how much does it affect you personally?” Chaubey wrote in his heartfelt tribute to the late actor.
A source close to Sanjay Leela Bhansali told indianexpress.com, "Many people in the industry are expressing their grief and not many know that both Sushant Singh Rajput and Sanjay Leela Bhansali were quite fond of each other as well as their work. In fact, not once but 4 times working together was on the cards for them, SLB had offered him 4 films, but due to date issues, things didn’t materialise. As far as their equation is concerned, Sushant had taken quite a strong stand for SLB when the director was attacked in Jaipur and while Sushant condemned the violence he also dropped his surname ‘Rajput’ to show support to the filmmaker. And not just SLB, but even Ekta Kapoor and Sushant had lots of mutual admiration for each other. Ekta was not just his close friend, but also a huge admirer of his craft, in fact, she has time and again praised Sushant for his talent and had offered him several projects."
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A 16-year-old boy died by suicide in Adarsh Nagar locality in Nayagaon on Wednesday. The boy was said to be upset with the suicide of actor Sushant Singh Rajpoot. Police initiated an inquest proceeding under the Section 174 of Criminal Proceeding Code (CrPC). Nayagaon Station House Office (SHO) Inspector Ashok Kumar told The Indian Express that the boy was a student of class 10 in a private school and died by suicide at his home. Read more here
KRK tweeted, "I promise to produce biopic of #SushantSingh to expose all the culprits. I love to hate you Bollywood people! #justiceforSushanthSinghRajput"
Many have alleged that the deep-rooted nepotism in Bollywood deprived Sushant Singh Rajput of opportunities, which in turn took a toll on his physiological well-being and eventually led him to take an extreme step. Neeraj Madhav recently wrote a lengthy post on the challenges of being an “outsider” in the Malayalam film industry. The actor suggested that the power structure in Mollywood demands unquestionable compliance from young actors. He claimed that there were consequences if young actors chose to defy “unwritten rules” of the industry.
Neeraj Madhav noted that hierarchy was systematically implemented on film sets. He also claimed that sitting in a cross-legged position, wearing sunglasses on the sets, and sharing one’s views on the script were all considered to be signs of arrogance. Read more here
Bollywood actor Rhea Chakraborty appeared at the Bandra police station on Thursday to record her statement in connection with Sushant Singh Rajput's suicide, an official said. Rhea was called to the police station by the investigating officer in the case.
Rhea and Sushant were reportedly good friends and were soon to being work on Rumy Jafry's upcoming film. Read more here
Style actor Sahil Khan, in a cryptic Instagram post revealed how nepotism in Bollywood forced him to quit films. He wrote, 'Bahut kam logon ke saath aise hota hai ki apni first film (Style) ke baad India ke sabse top film magazine ke cover par, do India ke sabse bade superstars ke saath ho. Magar unmein seek superstar ko bahut bura laga. Jabki main toh naya tha, unka fan tha, kamzor tha. Fir bhi woh mujhe kai baar side role ke liye bulate rahe. TV show ke liye bhi bulate rahe. Aur fir kai films se mujhe nikalwa diya. Naam bade par darshan chote. Guess who? I don't give a f*** today for him kyunki Sushant Singh Rajput ne unka saccha asli chechra dikha diya. Duniya ke woh log new talents se kitna darte hain. 20 saal mein John Abraham se alawa koi nahi aaya industry mein bada star coz koi aane nahi deta. Only star son ko hi kaam milta hai. Think about it. (It happens with a very few people that after their first film (Style) they feature on India's top magazine cover with India's top two stars. But, one of the stars did not like it. In fact, I was new, their fan and vulnerable. Then too they called me several times for side roles, on their TV show and then got me thrown out of films. Guess who? I don't give a f*** today for him because Sushant Singh Rajput has exposed their true face. These people of the world are scared of new talents. In 20 years, no one art from John Abraham could become a star in the industry because they never let anyone become one. Only star son get roles. Think about it. RIP"
"When I did my guest appearance in his Dil Bechara, I think he was quite happy with that. He was very nice to me and he said he wanted to come and have a drink and talk about various things, which never happened, which I feel bad about. Maybe I could have, you know, helped in some way or not… I don’t know. But after working with him, I quite liked him because he was nice. And then he told me he danced behind me as Shiamak’s dancer during the Melbourne Commonwealth Games (in 2006). And so I was congratulating him on how far he’d come, you know?” the actor was quoted as saying by the Hindustan Times.
"You will be missed. You will be celebrated. The stars in the night sky make us all dream and now you are one of them. Keep shining, keep twinkling and may your soul rest in peace," wrote Kedarnath screenwriter Kanika Dhillon as she remembered Sushant Singh Rajput.
Actor Sushant Singh Rajput, who was found dead at his apartment at Bandra west on June 14, had stopped taking medicines to treat depression in the weeks leading to his death as he was “feeling better”, Siddharth Pithani, the late actor’s creative manager, has told Mumbai Police.
“Pithani told us that he was not aware of the reason why Rajput was depressed. As he had been staying at Rajput’s home, he had, however, overheard the actor’s staff saying that he had stopped taking the medicines in the past few weeks as he was feeling better,” said the officer.
In a lengthy tribute to the late star, producer Vikas Gupta recalled the happier times he had spent in the company of Sushant and his former partner and actor Ankita Lokhande. Vikas also wrote about how Ankita's company could drive away Sushant's blues in an instant and that she was a pillar of strength and support for him.
In a recent interview with the Enquiry, director Abhishek Kapoor opened up about Sushant Singh Rajput. Abhishek had launched the late actor's career with the successful Kai Po Che and had even worked with him later on Kedarnath. "It's a very motherly and fatherly feeling when you launch someone. He was a different person when I met him in Kedarnath. He had done another film which had not done well and people were thrashing it. But that's just competition and that is something you have got to take head on. He was an actor and he was also a star, but above all he was an artiste. And artistes are fragile. They need to be taken care of," the filmmaker said.
Abhishek also shed light about his opinion on nepotism and said, "Parents will do what they have to for their children but don't not celebrate outsiders, don't discredit them. Celebration of an artiste is like oxygen for him. He will die if you do not celebrate him."
"Rest in peace, Sushant. Prayers and strength to your family and loved ones," shared the Bollywood star in an Insta story.
After a case was filed against Ekta Kapoor, Karan Johar, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Salman Khan and others on Wednesday in connection with the suicide of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, Ekta took to Instagram and said she is beyond upset at how convoluted theories can be. Click here to know more.
"Who let sushant down? Is this even a question. Everyday and every second, if you are an outsider, people will let you down in this industy. I was thrown out of 6 huge films after signing with biggest star and banners, replaced by insiders. I was depressed," tweeted actor Neetu Chandra.
Sushant Singh Rajput's sister Shweta wrote on Facebook, "Reached my Patna’s home safely yesterday. Thanks to everyone who was praying and who helped in the process. It was hassle free🙏 Today we will be doing Asthi Visarjan (Ashes Immersion) for Bhai. I again want to ask all to pray for him and send him off with all the fond memories and unconditional love in your hearts. Let’s celebrate his life and give him a very loving and happy farewell. #Sushantsinghrajput"
Filmmaker Kunal Kohli tweeted, "Dear #SushanthSinghRajput, We didn’t understand you while you lived, now we’re trying to when you’ve gone. In an alternate universe somewhere hopefully you’re seeing the impact of YOU."
Calling Sushant Singh Rajput as “a true friend”, Israel has expressed its deepest condolences at the passing away of the young Bollywood star. Rajput, 34, was found dead in his Bandra apartment on Sunday.
On Tuesday, Gilad Cohen, deputy director general of Israel’s foreign ministry, took to Twitter to mourn the actor’s sudden demise.
“Sending my deepest condolences on the passing of Sushant Singh Rajput, a true friend of Israel. You will be missed!” Cohen wrote while sharing the link of the song “Makhna” from the actor’s last film Drive. Read more here.