Sushant Singh Rajput was 34. (Photo: Express Archive)
The news of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput killing himself has shocked the Indian film industry. Sushant’s body was found at his Bandra home, Mumbai police confirmed. Deputy Commissioner of Police Abhishek Trimukhe confirmed it was a case of suicide and said the Mumbai Police has begun investigation.
Sushant Singh Rajput, who made his acting debut with Star Plus TV show Kis Desh Mein Hai Meraa Dil (2008), shot to fame with Zee TV’s popular soap opera Pavitra Rishta. His role of Manav in the Ekta Kapoor serial earned him several awards including Indian Television Academy Awards and BIG Star Entertainment Awards. Sushant also participated in some reality shows including Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 4 where he emerged as the first runner-up. He soon made his transition to Bollywood with Kai Po Che (2013) which got him several debut awards.
In a career spanning over a decade, Sushant also became a part of hit projects like Detective Byomkesh Bakshy, Kedarnath, Sonchiriya and Chhichhore among more. His portrayal of former Indian cricket captain MS Dhoni in the biopic M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story remained one of the highlights of his career. In fact, the movie was one of the biggest box office success of his career.
A day after Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead at his Bandra home in Mumbai, the police said the actor had shown symptoms of clinical depression and was consulting a psychiatrist. The investigators said they learnt this after recording the statement of six persons in connection with Rajput’s case.
The police said it was through their statements that they learnt that Sushant Singh Rajput was depressed and had sought counselling. He, however, was not taking any medication.
Also Read | Sushant Singh Rajput showed signs of clinical depression, sought counselling: Police
Neil Nitin Mukesh posted on Twitter, "Honestly lost for words since yesterday. Your Good deeds in silence have ensured that u will b remembered forever. U r a blessed soul. At a young age, u made a mark in an industry that millions only dream of. It is not easy to have achieved what u did. But YOU DID."
He further wrote, "Such a great talent. My condolences with your family, loved ones and all those fans who loved you and will remember you for all eternity. You not only immortalised yourself with great performances but etched a place in everyone’s heart with your sensitivity."
Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh took to Twitter to share, "While the post mortem report says actor @itsSSR committed suicide by hanging himself, there are media reports that he allegedly suffered from clinical depression because of professional rivalry. @MumbaiPolice will probe this angle too."
The Forensic Science Laboratory at Kalina in Mumbai will conduct a probe into the case of alleged suicide by Sushant Singh Rajput and submit its report in 10 days, an official told PTI on Monday.
Casting director and Dil Bechara director Mukesh Chhabra tweeted, 'Sushant was like a brother to me. It is so unfortunate and heartbreaking, and I cannot even put it down in words. Sushant was an introvert, but he was really intelligent and talented beyond words. The industry has lost a gem, an irreplaceable gem. Deeply saddened and shocked. I still can't believe it. Our endless conversations have come to an abrupt end. I hope you are in a better place my brother. Will always miss you and love you.'
Dil Bechara is Sushant Singh Rajput's yet-to-be-released film.
"Young actors are shaken, including me. In a manner and degree that is a little unexpected and unexplained. I can feel it in my bones and flesh, I have seen it in the eyes of the few people I have seen since yesterday, I have heard it in the voices of friends I have spoken to," tweeted the Tripling fame actor Amol Parashar.
Actor Vivek Oberoi paid his last respects to Sushant Singh Rajput.
In a tweet, Chandan Roy Sanyal wrote, "I hope audience and society look at actors beyond flesh from here on . Like James Dean says “Being an actor is the loneliest thing in the world. You are all alone with your concentration and imagination, and that's all you have.” Be kind to us we are not superhuman.Thank You"
Abhishek Kapoor and wife Pragya Kapoor arrived at the funeral of Sushant Singh Rajput. Abhishek and Sushant worked together in Kai Po Che and Kedarnath.
Shraddha Kapoor paid her last respects to Chhichhore co-star Sushant Singh Rajput.
Mukesh Chhabra and Kriti Sanon were seen at Sushant Singh Rajput's funeral in Mumbai.
Ranvir Shorey expressed how it is important to speak about those who have the power in Bollywood. In a series of tweets, he mentioned how it is important to call out "two facedness" of the industry.
Salil Acharya took to Twitter and mentioned, "Nobody is actually a call away ... theyre all 'call u back in 5 mins .. anything important brother?'"
"I never met him and will never unless somewhere in a cosmic realm. Saw one of his films Kedarnath. Felt his inherent goodness. Wish he had someone to help him feel worthy of living and take his chances. Rest in peace Sushant," Adil Hussain remembered Sushant Singh Rajput in a tweet.
Delhi Technological Uniersity mourned the loss of Sushant Singh Rajput in a Facebook post.
Nupur Sanon shared a note on Instagram revealing how fans are flooding her social media handles with negative comments.
Singer Shweta Pandit tweeted, "When he said “deliberately dont allow right talent to come in” i salute you for your courage @itsSSR .. i could never say this on any platform myself & ive suffered so much internally for years & no one still cares. Every time a fan asks me, “why u dont sing more songs”...silence!"
"I knew the pain you were going through. I knew the story of the people that let you down so bad that you would weep on my shoulder. I wish Iwas around the last 6 months. I wish you had reached out to me. What happened to you was their Karma. Not yours. #SushantSinghRajput," filmmaker Shekhar Kapur expressed on Twitter.
Siddharthh Gupta shared videos and photos featuring his happy moments with Sushant Singh Rajput.
"As actors, somewhere deep down inside, we think we know why he did it & that’s why it so disturbing even if you didn’t know him at all. It’s a hard game to play and he played it very well but the game won in the end," Gulshan Devaiah shared via Twitter.
Ekta Kapoor gave a throwback to the times she spent with Sushant Singh Rajput in a video which also featured his shots from Zee TV popular series Pavitra Rishta. "From you being spotted at prithvi cafe by the Balaji team for TV to you becoming India’s brightest star you did it all! We will celebrate you everyday! Hope you are with your mom now who you missed so much!" Kapoor tweeted.
Sushant Singh Rajput's last rites will be held at Pawan Hans crematorium, Vile Parle on Monday evening.
Sussanne Khan took to Instagram remembering Sushant Singh Rajput.
TV actor Abigail Pandey posted a photo featuring Sushant Singh Rajput, and wrote, "People you love, never really leave you. Thank you for teaching me friendship sushu. Till we meet again"
Mahesh Shetty, who is said to have spoken to Sushant Singh Rajput before the actor passed away, in shock and completely heartbroken. His PR team took to his social media to post a message that read, "As we all are deeply pained and shocked to hear about Sushant Singh Rajput's untimely demise... So is Mahesh Shetty. He has lost a brother, a very dear friend and is still coming to terms with the shock and reality and is completely heartbroken. We, his team, request the media and all of you, on his behalf, to please give him some privacy and let him greive for his loss."
Sapna Pabbi bid goodbye to Sushant Singh Rajput with a beautiful post on Instagram. "He wanted the moon, but I don’t think he ever realised that at times he was the moon. He was the warmest moon, sitting in the corner reading his space book. My moonlit friend, my space man, my fellow quantum buddy, you star; I hope you’ve reached your destination now. This goodbye is too painful for words. May your beautiful soul rest in peace," she wrote.
Sushant Singh Rajput's father has left from his residence in Patna. He is heading to Mumbai to perform last rites of his son.
Remebering Sushant Singh Rajput, Bhumi Pednekar shared a still from the film Sonchiriya and wrote, "Rest in Peace my friend... Shocked and Heart broken...Still can’t believe it...To star gazing and our endless chats...am going to spot you twinkling bright up there with the rest cause you are and will always be a star my dearest SSR"
Mouni Roy on Instagram wrote, "Let’s just be kind... shocked beyond belief..Deepest condolences to the family.. Rest in peace Sushant"
Arjun Kapoor shared the screenshot of his conversation with Sushant Singh Rajput and wrote, '18 months ago... My last msg to him was when he posted about his mom a week after the release of Kedarnath. He was missing her I assume while the movie was being celebrated. I didn’t know him well enough though our paths crossed at yrf, events & screenings every now & then. I can’t say I understood what made him make this choice. I can say I felt the pain he did about losing his bearings & feeling that void of his mother. I hope ur in a better & happier space my friend. I hope u have found ur peace. We will all wonder & try & make sense of what happened today. I just hope & pray that when the circus settles down we as a society in due course realise ur choice wasn’t driven by one singular moment or thing but a culmination of so much that defines a human being not just by the profession u were in. Rest my dear brother Sushant you are now I hope at peace.'
In a series of tweets, Shraddha Das wrote about how it is "foolish to expect true and unflinching love, loyalty and friendship" in the film industry. "If you ever go to a filmi party, you will realise people don't look beyond what you are wearing and how you are looking and how happening or influential you are. And once you get sucked into it, you want that fake approval again and again. These are not and can never be your real friends," wrote Shraddha in one of her tweets.
Actor Tisca Chopra on Instagram expressed how "deeply shocked" she is at the passing of Sushant Singh Rajput. "We will never know what drove him to this. But what we do know is that this is a time to reach out to near and dear ones and tell them they are needed and loved deeply. And dear Sushant, hope you are surrounded by angels who soothe your aching soul. RIP" Chopra wrote.
Yami Gautam took to Instagram and wrote, "Never knew Sushant personally & yet devastated & still shocked...heart-breaking .. the pain & grief of family members must be beyond words..Rest in peace, Sushant. Prayers & Strength"
Sharing a picture of Sushant Singh Rajput, Neha Sharma wrote, "I didn’t know him personally but extremely shocked and saddened by the news of Sushant’s passing. This is a horrible tragedy and is a huge loss for all the lives he touched. This is also a reminder that we need to take care of our mental health as much as physical health and let’s reach out and make sure that our loved ones know we are there for them.Sushant was a rare talent and will be missed by so many of us. Here’s requesting everyone to be sensitive and let’s ensure we allow his family and everyone close to him to grieve and mourn in private. May his soul rest in peace."
YouTuber Prajakta Koli took to Instagram and promised 'to lend an ear' because she feels most of us need to be heard.
Farah Khan, remembering Sushant Singh Rajput, shared adorable photos on Instagram. "Can’t still believe.. but I know somewhere your mother is hugging you n keeping you safe. Be at peace my dearest," she mentioned.
In a video, Sanjana Sanghi remembered Sushant Singh Rajput, her co-star in debut film Dil Bechara. She said, "He used to tell me after every schedule that he wants to see me go far and I have infinite potential. We spoke about what we want to do for education for children in India. I promise you that everyone is going to be grateful for the work you have left behind."
Armaan Malik remembered Sushant Singh Rajput in a post on Instagram.
In a long note, Dipika Kakar Ibrahim spoke about how she was an admirer and a fan of Sushant Sing Rajput, starting from Pavitra Rishta then Kai Po Che, MS Dhoni The Untold Story and so on. "I really don't know what lead Sushant into depression and then into this drastic step, but this is a shock for all of us. I will miss him. Stay strong, stay safe and please talk. You are precious to your parents and loved ones," she wrote in the post.
Sharing a photo of Sushant Singh Rajput on Instagram, Kubbra Sait wrote, "No. Let’s rewind. If only I could hear you play the guitar again. If only I could see you cackle and rope me in with your hug. If only. You are special, and will always be... no matter where you are. Rest In Peace @sushantsinghrajput"
Kritika Kamra took to Instagram and wrote, "Sushant was as brilliant as the stars that always mesmerised him. Curious, generous, kind and spirited. Performed with all his heart. Danced like he owned the stage. Hugged tight and long. We will celebrate his work and cherish the characters he became. I will also never forget his child-like energy, his sense of wonder and that charming smile."
She continued, "Sushant was a thinker and a believer. He was fascinated by the possibilities of science and the power of faith alike. I always found that amazing! Sparse conversations I had with him over the years have been playing in my head.. He went to NASA for a workshop and I remember him showing me an email he received from the team praising him. He was ecstatic. Another time, he made me experience the moon landing through VR all while explaining what I was seeing. He would play Pink Floyd in the background and have passionate conversations.. and at parties, pull everyone to dance whenever a 90s Bollywood song came on. Every time we met, he was warm and genuine. So rare. We weren’t close friends but these nuggets of memories will remain. You’re special Sushant! Shine on in the unknown."
"I’m stunned beyond words. What an Incredible Loss, an Incredible Mind and an Incredible Talent. Will miss seeing stars from the telescope on ur terrace, our Astrophysics and NASA conversations, Dance competitions, Cricket celebrations and Ghazal nights. I’m gonna miss you @sushantsinghrajput TOO MUCH! Gone too soon. I love you. Rest in peace my friend. My condolences and strength to the family #sushantsinghrajput #RIP #gonetoosoon #heartbroken," Preity Zinta said via Instagram.
Vir Das shared on Twitter, "Sushant Singh Rajput was a complete outsider who made it from background dancer to a movie star through hard work and talent. That's an amazing and unique true story. Take a moment to remember that above everything. For outsiders, actors struggling, for anyone. That's a legacy."
Neha Dhupita posted on Instagram, "Have a pain in my gutt as I write this. I was somewhere between a fan and a friend. Such a lovely talented young man you were #sushantsinghrajput and you decided to go away too soon. My condolences to the family. Can’t imagine what they must be going thru and can’t even begin to imagine what you must have gone thru. We are all so sorry."