This is an archive article published on April 2, 2025
Sushant Singh Rajput case: ‘Damage to Rhea Chakraborty can’t be undone; it broke her parents, brother lost out on education’, says friend Nidhi Hiranandani
In an exclusive interview with SCREEN, Rhea Chakraborty's best friend Nidhi Hiranandani recalls how the incident changed the entire family.
Actor Sushant Singh Rajput’sdeath by suicide sent shockwaves across the industry and India, and put Sushant’s then-girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty and her family in the eye of the storm. Rhea and her brother Showik were accused of being involved in Sushant’s death, and were later arrested. They lived with the hate and accusations for five years and finally found closure when the CBI filed its final report giving a clean chit to Rhea Chakraborty and her brother Showik. Soon after this, SCREEN spoke to Rhea’s close friend Nidhi Hiranandani, who revisited the ordeal the family went through.
Nidhi revealed how the family was ostracized and their lives were ripped apart. She shared that both Rhea and Showik lost precious years of their careers due to these allegations. Talking about Rhea and Sushant Singh Rajput’s relationship, Nidhi said, “As a couple, they were full of love, it was a beautiful relationship. Both of them were always there for each other.” She even revisited the moment when Rhea was first summoned in the case and said, “I was constantly in touch with Rhea when all this was happening. I don’t think she or her family got even a minute to digest the loss of a loved one. They were shocked, were grieving, and they were just thrown into this survival mode. They couldn’t even sit and mourn properly.”
Rhea had bruises all over her arms and face, her mom fell on the floor…
Nidhi recalled Rhea’s very first brush with the media trial and recalled, “When Rhea walked out and all the journalist were shoving their mics, that day when she came home, she had bruises all over her arms and face. That day we realized that it was all just beginning. I felt completely helpless. I was sitting with her mom, we were watching TV together, I saw her face, the way she fell on the floor, I will never forget that. It was the most devastating moment of their lives.”
“Initially, there was a lot of disbelief. We couldn’t process where all this was coming from. We were all just coming to terms with all that had happened, and I remember how shattered Rhea and Showik were. Indrajit and Sandhya treated Sushant like family, and he also did the same. I saw how they broke down, their mental health was already suffering,” Nidhi added.
Rhea became the scapegoat, we were begging and pleading people to talk for us…
Nidhi recalls how during Covid, Rhea became an easy target for people to hate. She went on the share, “What Rhea went through was unprecedented. I felt very helpless seeing their life being ripped apart. The family wanted to lead with grace, they wanted it to end. We were begging and pleading with people to talk for us, but nobody wanted to. There was a wave of hatred, and everybody was riding on it. Nobody wanted to focus on the truth, but they wanted this person to hate. Rhea became the scapegoat.”
Rhea’s mom lost her voice, she would stand for hours in the temple, constantly praying for protection…
The moment of her arrest hit her family hard. Nidhi recalled how when Rhea and Showik were taken into police custody, both the parents were shattered. “That moment of her arrest was absolute panic. We didn’t think an arrest was possible because there was no factual truth to it. There was no way this could be proven right because not a single element was true in all the allegations. It was unbelievable. When they were arrested, we didn’t know who we could reach out to. It was Covid, uncle and aunty were shattered. I saw them breaking down, Rhea’s mom lost her voice, she just couldn’t talk. When she did, sometimes she was incoherent. She would stand for hours in the temple with folded hands, constantly praying for protection. Her father was constantly trying to reach out to people who could help his kids.”
Nidhi also shared that the limited time Rhea was given to talk to her family through a video call, while she was in jail, they would often discuss the case and details about it.
Rhea lost her career, and Showik was denied admission to most of the prestigious colleges…
Nidhi Hiranandani also shared how this entire incident changed Showik, a boy who was looking forward to getting the best education. She said, “Showik was just 23, he was giving his CAT exams. He got admission to the most prestigious colleges, but he couldn’t go. Rhea lost her career, she couldn’t do any film. So much was taken from them. Showik was denied admission to most of the colleges because the case was going on. From a boy, he became a man who now wants to build his life and bring stability to the family. He lost his youth, his carefree days. Both Rhea and Showik had to grow up overnight.”
People in the industry did not show support openly…
While Rhea was vilified from all fronts, the industry was there for her, however, the support was discreet. Explaining the industry’s stand, Nidhi shared, “People in the industry did show support, not as openly as I would have liked. In that moment, if you spoke pro-Rhea, people were taking you as anti-Sushant. Either you agree that the allegations were true or you were against Sushant, I found that very bizarre. We respected Sushant a lot, we loved him, but Rhea was also innocent, both things were true.”
Rhea is now a shattered person, the jail trauma can be undone only in a lifetime…
Even though Rhea endured all the tags given to her, she did preserve her spirit to a great extent. But she did change with all the suffering. “We were looking after her mother and father when they were in jail. This incident did change Rhea but it didn’t break her spirit. It affected her a lot, took a lot of her confidence, she is strong, but a shattered person. There was so much fear. It will take a lifetime to undo the damage the jail term did.”
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While Nidhi wishes Rhea’s resurrection to be noisier than her downfall, she wishes that the damage could be undone. Nidhi said, “I hope people find a way to undo the damage, they at least apologise to her and her family.”
On the work front, Rhea is now seen as a judge on MTV Roadies Double Cross.
Nawaz Javed Kochra is a seasoned entertainment journalist at The Indian Express Online, bringing nearly a decade of expertise to the forefront of cultural reporting. With a focus on the television and Over-The-Top (OTT) landscapes, he has established himself as a prominent voice in the industry, known for his high-profile celebrity interviews and insightful coverage of the Indian entertainment sector.
Experience & Career
Nawaz holds a Master of Arts in Communication and Journalism from Mumbai University, providing him with a rigorous academic and ethical foundation. In his 11-year career, he has navigated through several of India's leading media houses, building a portfolio that spans digital, print, and broadcast media:
The Indian Express: Currently leads coverage of TV and OTT content, producing both written analysis and popular video interview segments.
Former Roles: He began his career at the iconic Stardust Magazine and later held key positions at Zoom TV, Zee Multimedia, MissMalini, Bollywood Bubble, and Raindrop Media.
Expertise & Focus Areas
Nawaz’s beat is characterized by a blend of exclusive access and trend analysis. His core areas of expertise include:
Reality Television: Specialized coverage of major franchises like Bigg Boss, providing behind-the-scenes insights and winner profiles.
OTT Ecosystem: Tracking the shift from traditional cable to digital streaming platforms, with a focus on web series and digital premieres.
Celebrity Profiles & Interviews: Nawaz is celebrated for his ability to foster candid conversations with industry stalwarts, from music composers like Amaal Mallik to other TV legends.
Investigative Entertainment News: Reporting on sensitive industry developments, including legal disputes and personal stories of resilience within the acting community.
Authoritativeness & Trust
With a reputation built on years of networking and credible reporting, Nawaz Kochra is a "known face" in the Mumbai media circuit. His work at The Indian Express adheres to the publication's "Journalism of Courage" standard, ensuring that even entertainment reporting is approached with accuracy, sensitivity, and transparency. His educational background and extensive tenure across diverse media platforms provide him with the authoritative perspective required to analyze the rapid evolution of Indian show business. ... Read More
Rhea Chakraborty gets clean chit in Sushant Singh Rajput death case (Photos: Rhea Chakraborty, Nidhi Hiranandani / Instagram)