Exactly a month ago, on June 14, we lost the young Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput. The actor’s death by suicide came as a shock to the entire industry, his friends, family and his fans mourned deeply. What followed his death were unending nepotism debates, conversations about outsiders’ survival in the industry and death and rape threats to actors who were blamed for treating him as an outsider. But all of that did little to diminish his standing as one of the most talented and beloved actors in B-Town. And nothing ever will. So it’s time people let the late actor rest in peace. It’s time that people understand that those close to him still haven’t come to terms with the actor’s tragic demise.
Earlier today, actress Rhea Chakraborty took to social media to share how she is still “struggling to face her emotions”.
Rhea wrote, “Still struggling to face my emotions…an irreparable numbness in my heart. You are the one who made me believe in love, the power of it. You taught me how a simple mathematical equation can decipher the meaning of life and I promise you that I learnt from you every day. I will never come to terms with you not being here anymore…You were everything a beautiful person could be, the greatest wonder that the world has seen. My words are incapable of expressing the love we have and I guess you truly meant it when you said it is beyond both of us…Be in peace Sushi. 30 days of losing you but a lifetime of loving you.”
Sushant’s Pavitra Rishta co-star and ex-girlfriend Ankita Lokhande also shared a memory in his remembrance. In her first post since the Kai Po Che actor’s demise, she shared a picture of a diya and wrote, “Child Of God”.
Ankita, who dated Sushant for six years before they parted ways, visited his house as she could not attend the actor’s last rites owing to the restrictions on the number of attendees (because of the coronavirus pandemic).
Sushant’s good friend Mukesh Chhabra also shared some pictures with the actor on his Instagram handle, and wrote, “It’s been a month! You’ll never call me again now”. Mukesh directed Sushant in his last film Dil Bechara. He recently shared the trailer of the film on his Instagram account and dedicated it to the actor.
Also read: A Film Is In The Works On Sushant Singh Rajput’s ‘Suicide Or Murder’ & It’s Insensitive AF
Sushant’s death left a void in the film industry and it’s time we honour his memory with conversations around mental health. We need to address the fact that Sushant lost his life to depression, a very serious mental illness. Nothing will ever come out of people sharing their private conversations with the actor. Those pushing their personal agendas, having heated nepotism debates need to understand that in some way you are inflicting the same harm on these people that Sushant may have gone through if the reason for his death was bullying.
Let him rest in peace. We are praying for his family and friends. Our prayers are with Sushant and his family.
Featured Image: Instagram/Rhea Chakraborty/Ankita Lokhande
