A star who shone bright before fading prematurely, Sushant Singh Rajput, a name that resonates with talent and brilliance, was a celebrated actor whose journey from television to films captivated millions. Known for his versatility and dedication, Sushant’s life was a blend of brilliance, passion, and tragedy.
Early Life and Career
Sushant Singh Rajput was born on January 21, 1986, in Maldiah, Purnia, Bihar Krishna Kumar Singh and Usha Singh. His father worked as a technical officer at the Bihar State Handloom Corporation, while his mother was a homemaker. Sushant, the youngest of five siblings, had four sisters: Neetu, Meetu, Priyanka, and Shweta. His sister Meetu Singh later became a state-level cricketer. The family moved from Purnia to Patna, where Sushant spent his early years. In 2002, his mother passed away, a loss that deeply affected him. The family then relocated to Delhi, marking a new chapter in his life.
Sushant attended St. Karen’s High School in Patna, excelling academically. After moving to Delhi, he studied at Kulachi Hansraj Model School. He showed a strong aptitude for science, winning the National Olympiad in Physics. Sushant was ambidextrous and could write with both hands. He secured the 7th rank in the All India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE) in 2003. He enrolled in the Delhi College of Engineering (now Delhi Technological University) to pursue a degree in Mechanical Engineering but dropped out in his third year to follow his passion for acting.
TV Career of Sushant Singh Rajput
Sushant’s journey into entertainment began with dance and theater. He joined Shiamak Davar’s dance troupe, performing at events like the 2005 Filmfare Awards, the 2006 Commonwealth Games, and in the song “Dhoom Again” from Dhoom 2. Inspired by peers, he enrolled in Barry John’s acting classes, where his talent stood out. Barry John encouraged him to pursue acting professionally after grading him highly. Sushant then joined Nadira Babbar’s Ekjute theatre group in Mumbai, performing for over two years.
Sushant’s acting career began with television. He made his debut in the romantic drama “Kis Desh Mein Hai Meraa Dil (2008),” but it was his role as Manav Deshmukh in “Pavitra Rishta (2009-2011)” that made him a household name. His performance earned him several awards and accolades, paving the way for his entry into Hindi films. In 2011, Sushant left Pavitra Rishta to pursue films.
Sushant Singh Rajput In Cinema
Sushant made his film debut with Kai Po Che! (2013), an adaptation of Chetan Bhagat’s novel “The 3 Mistakes of My Life.” His portrayal of Ishaan Bhatt was widely appreciated, and the film was a critical and commercial success.
The same year he starred in Yash Raj Films production’s Shuddh Desi Romance (2013). The film featured him as Raghu, a commitment-phobic tour guide, alongside Parineeti Chopra and Vaani Kapoor. Critics praised his spontaneous and fresh portrayal.
In M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story (2016), directed by Neeraj Pandey, Sushant portrayed cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni. He trained for 13 months under coach Kiran More to master Dhoni’s playing style, delivering a performance that won him the Screen Award for Best Actor (Critics) and an Indian Film Festival of Melbourne Best Actor award.
Kedarnath (2018), a romantic drama set during the 2013 Uttarakhand floods, featured him as Mansoor, a Muslim porter, opposite Sara Ali Khan. The film’s emotional depth resonated with audiences. Chhichhore (2019), a college drama about friendship and resilience, saw him play Anni, a role that highlighted his ability to balance humor and depth, contributing to the film’s commercial success.
Other Work
Some of his other memorable films include PK (2014), Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! (2015), Raabta (2017), and Sonchiriya (2019). His last film, “Dil Bechara,” was released posthumously.
Sushant was an avid reader and had a keen interest in astrophysics. He even bought land on the moon in a region known as the Sea of Muscovy. He was also a proud owner of a Meade LX-600 16″ telescope, which he bought for stargazing. To prepare for his role in Chanda Mama Door Ke, he went to train at NASA. Unfortunately, the film was never completed.
One other film that adversely affected him was Shekhar Kapoor‘s dream project “Paani,” for which Sushant was famously signed as the lead and prepared for for a long time. But the filming never started, and finally the film got shelved.
Personal Life
Sushant Singh Rajput dated Ankita Lokhande, his Pavitra Rishta co-star, from 2010 to 2016. The couple lived together for six years and were rumored to have secretly married in 2015, though they denied it. They planned a wedding in December 2016, but mutually ended their relationship earlier that year. According to media reports, in 2015, Ankita publicly slapped Sushant at a party when he was intoxicated and dancing with others. Sushant was later dated Rhea Chakraborty in 2019.
Sushant died on June 14, 2020, at his Bandra residence, aged 34. His death sparked controversies, with the Central Bureau of Investigation ruling out foul play in 2025.
The Untimley Demise
Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead in his Bandra, Mumbai apartment on June 14, 2020. Mumbai Police reported the cause as suicide by hanging. Official postmortem reports confirmed asphyxia due to hanging. No suicide note was found. His clothes were scattered on the bedroom floor, suggesting he had pulled a kurta from his cupboard. Police noted a height discrepancy between Sushant and the ceiling fan, concluding he hanged himself in an inclined position. No signs of struggle or forced entry were observed. The night before, Sushant retired to his room after dinner. Reports of a party at his home on June 13 were denied by Mumbai Police and his house help. CCTV footage later confirmed no party took place.
The investigation
The investigation into Sushant’s death quickly escalated. Mumbai Police initially led the probe. On July 25, 2020, Sushant’s father, Krishna Kumar Singh, filed an FIR in Patna against Sushant’s girlfriend, Rhea Chakraborty, and six others. He accused them of abetment to suicide, wrongful restraint, wrongful confinement, theft, and cheating, alleging financial and mental harassment. This led to a jurisdictional clash between Bihar and Mumbai Police. Public speculation grew, fueled by social media and news outlets. Theories of foul play, industry nepotism, and financial misconduct emerged.
On August 19, 2020, the Supreme Court transferred the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The CBI recreated the scene with a life-size dummy, finding no evidence of forced entry or struggle. On October 3, 2020, Dr. Sudhir Gupta of AIIMS, leading the CBI’s forensic team, ruled out murder, stating, “Sushant’s death is a case of suicide.” The AIIMS report, submitted on October 5, 2020, confirmed this, finding no injuries beyond those consistent with hanging. The CBI filed a closure report on March 22, 2025, ruling out foul play and clearing Rhea Chakraborty and her family of criminal involvement.
The Drug Angle
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) joined the investigation on August 26, 2020, after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) found evidence of drug supply to Sushant and Rhea. The NCB filed an FIR against Rhea, her brother Showik, and others under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act for cannabis-related charges. On September 4, 2020, the NCB arrested Showik and Sushant’s house manager. Rhea was arrested on September 9 for allegedly procuring drugs for Sushant.
The NCB claimed Sushant was a regular smoker of narcotic substances, noting he had asked his assistant to prepare three cannabis cigarettes days before his death. Mumbai Police later seized these cigarettes.
Rhea faced judicial remand until October 20, 2020, but the Bombay High Court granted her bail on October 7, 2020, on a Rs 100,000 bond. Showik’s bail plea was rejected. The NCB arrested 20 individuals in total, though forensic audits found no significant financial misconduct by Rhea, with only Rs 55 lakh of Sushant’s Rs 70 crore transactions linked to her.
Mental Health Struggles
Sushant’s personal life was equally affected by his mental health struggles. His relationship with Rhea became the subject of intense media scrutiny following his death. Rhea was reportedly his strongest support during his tough times, helping him manage his appointments and encouraging him to seek therapy.
Not much is documented about his struggle with the illness, but there are reports of his episodes of debilitating anxiety and depression, which affected his work and ultimately his life. His mental health issues were exacerbated by the pressures of the entertainment industry and the constant media scrutiny. Two psychiatrists who treated him in his final months diagnosed him with severe depression, anxiety, an existential crisis, and bipolar disorder. One doctor noted Sushant had experienced anxiety since age 20, with symptoms worsening over time.
By November 2019, he reported sleeplessness, loss of appetite, disinterest in life, and constant fear. He felt “one minute was like many days” and believed he could never overcome his bipolar disorder, fearing his family would suffer. Sushant stopped taking his prescribed medications, exacerbating his condition.
Mumbai Police revealed he had searched terms like “schizophrenia,” “bipolar disorder,” and “painless death” hours before his death. He had consulted a psychiatrist as early as 2013, and his sisters reported he had expressed feeling low. A week before his death, the suicide of his former manager, Disha Salian, deeply affected him, leading to emotional distress and fainting.
Substance Abuse
There are also reports of substance abuse, but nothing made up of this mostly due to the media circus and public hue and cry after his death. Some reports suggested Sushant’s drug use began as early as 2018. Veteran actor Naseer Abdullah, in a 2025 interview, acknowledged Sushant’s drug use but emphasized the need to focus on his mental health struggles rather than sensationalizing his substance use.
Mental health experts noted that substance abuse, including alcohol and cannabis, can worsen depression by affecting brain function, though the extent of its role in Sushant’s case remains unclear. Sushant’s family denied knowledge of his drug use, claiming it emerged after he began dating Rhea, though the CBI found no evidence of coercion in his consumption.
Food For Thought
Following his death, there was so much chaos and unnecessary name-calling that the real issue of his health, the lack of support and understanding for mental illness, the harsh competition, and the toxic working style of the industry remained in the background. Amid all the hue and cry, Sushant’s struggle with mental health remained untouched while the sensationalization of his personal and work life overshadowed the real issues.
Sushant’s success, his professional struggles, and his battle with depression and bipolar disorder were significant parts of his story, but they did not define him. We should look beyond the image made by media to its own benefit. Sushant should be remembered for his extraordinary courage and his choice to leave the path devised by others for him and follow his heart.
Mumtaz Ali on IMDB
