The Federal.Com
Sushant Singh Rajput: The cursed prodigal son of fate
If life had given Sushant a few more hours to think before he hanged himself, he would have realised that committing suicide is not even an option
7:49 AM, 15 June, 2020
According to the website, no one can log into a memorialised account. In the opening scene of one of Sushant Singh Rajput’s greatest films, titled Sonchiriya, a band of dacoits is walking through the Chambal valley. The gang comes to a halt as someone spots a dead snake ahead. But its leader Malkhan Singh, essayed by the magical Manoj Bajpai, presses ahead and removes the carcass with the bayonet of his gun from the serrated path.
“Invoke the name of the goddess and move on,” he tells the bandits.
“Dadda,” argues Sushant, “a dead snake can curse us.”
Replies Bajpai: “A curse won’t go away even if you change the path.”
If Sushant were alive today, he would have agreed. There was, most likely, a curse on his life that he just couldn’t evade.
Related news: Bollywood’s stargazer, kind, hardworker Sushant Singh Rajput no more
A curse is something life does to harm you even if you want to evade it. You are, in most cases, helpless against its tyranny. In Sushant’s case, the curse grew and multiplied in his mind, turning into severe depression.
If life had given Sushant a few more hours to think before he hanged himself, he would have realised that committing suicide is not even an option—it is just a momentary quirk not many, unfortunately, get the chance to regret once that temptation recedes.
Sushant, who died on June 14 at his Bandra residence at the unviable dieable age of 34–as Arundhati Roy said in a different context in her most famous book—was intellectually too sharp to know that the purpose of life is to extend it for as long as long possible; and that free will means not succumbing to the lure of death. It’s a tragedy that he relented to a temptation that defied his own intellectual depth because, in all likelihood, he was in the grip of a depression, a darkness that puts out every spark of hope and reason.
The purpose of life, as Covid-19 has taught us, to live, to defy death. You may have heard this phrase many times in the past, but it seems to mean more now since India’s Prime Minister rightly pointed out on prime-time TV: jaan hai to jahaan hai (the world exists only if you live).
Related news: Bright young actor gone too soon: PM condoles death of Sushant Singh Rajput
Sushant knew this more than anyone else, or so we believed. Why else would he have tested the limits of life, giving up easier options for a higher objective? If he had believed that life is about accepting what it gives you—an engineering degree in his case—why would he have rebooted it by starting out as a back-up dancer and then as an actor? Why would he have gone through so much to get something more out of the life he already had as a wannabe engineer? Obviously, he valued life, knew that it was worth fighting for.
You could see Sushant’s passion for life in his journey—a Patna boy starting out as a back-up dancer and then making his way up the ladder without the beatific presence of a godfather. A Shahrukh Khan of sorts of the current decade, if you will. Only a hard-boiled fighter with a burning desire to succeed could have started– and carried on– with this gruelling journey.
And he appeared to be the intellectual sort—a mix of brains, cinematic smarts, a shy smile and plenty of words of wisdom on everything. Off screen, when he spoke, you could almost feel his brain whirring, words competing in his mind to express the depth of his persona in a way that made everyone sit up and listen. You could almost wager that he had read Margret Mitchell well enough to know the Scarlet O’ Hara philosophy of tomorrow being another day.
Over and above this, he seemed to have it made. There is an entire group of celebrities—called Club 27—that has died young in the West, either by choice or accidentally (Heath Ledger, Amy Winehouse, Jim Morrison, et al). But, in the known history of Indian cinema, not many with Sushant’s credentials and CV—engineering student, Stanford scholarship winner, physics Olympiad medallist, great dancer, successful actor—have killed themselves. In fact, there are just two examples of stars dying at their peak—one of them Guru Dutt and the other Divya Bharti. But, both these cases are still open to interpretation. We still do not know if Guru Dutt died voluntarily or because of an accidental dose of sleeping pills taken with alcohol. Similarly, we do not know if Divya killed herself or fell accidentally off her balcony. So, Indian history seemed loaded against Sushant—an actor who seemed to be on the up escalator.
And yet he committed suicide.
Why do people kill themselves? The simplest answer is that they do not find life worth living. This happens when they run out of hope because of a variety of reasons—one of them clinical depression. In an ideal world, hope should have been an over-the-counter drug. Unfortunately, nobody has ever thought about it.
We may never find out why Sushant gave up hope. There are two possible theories, pending more evidence. One, like all intellectually sharp people, he may have realised life is nothing but a series of absurd events. But, if he were not dealing with clinical depression, Sushant would have also realised that the point of life is to deal with this absurdity, not to find a meaning in it. As philosopher Albert Camus, when asked if there is anything to be proud of life, argued, “Yes, there is: this sun, my heart leaping with youth, the salt taste of my body and this vast landscape…I surrender nothing of myself…learning patiently and arduously how to live is enough for me, well worth all their arts of living.”
Related news: Sushant Singh Rajput: A bright young star gone too soon
Two, and this is plain conjecture, he did it for a woman. Sensitive people, the ones who value emotions over material success, have their own ideas of happiness, success and failure—they generally seek emotional gratification over material success. And frequent failures can make them consider life a vacuous pursuit.
Writing for the Hindustan Times three years ago, Sushant had revealed that when he came to Delhi to study engineering, his first thought was: “The stage is set for me to bump into the heroine. But where is the heroine?”
Maybe the quest for a heroine—and turning it into the purpose of life— was his curse. And, even though he changed his path many times, it just did not spare Sushant Singh Rajput.
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BBC
Sushant Singh Rajput: Bollywood actor's death fuels mental health debate
15 June 2020
Image copyright GETTY IMAGES
BBC
Sushant Singh Rajput: Bollywood actor's death fuels mental health debate
15 June 2020
Image copyright GETTY IMAGES
Image caption Sushant Singh Rajput's death was met with an outpouring of grief
The death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput on Sunday has sparked fresh discussions about mental health.
The 34-year-old actor was found dead in his Mumbai home, in what police said appeared to be a case of suicide.
The news was met with an outpouring of grief by fans and other Bollywood stars with the conversation soon turning to mental health and depression.
Actress Deepika Padukone, who has talked openly of battling depression, said it was important to reach out.
"Talk. Communicate. Express. Seek help," she wrote on her Instagram account. "Remember, you are not alone. We are in this together. And most importantly, there is hope."
The death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput on Sunday has sparked fresh discussions about mental health.
The 34-year-old actor was found dead in his Mumbai home, in what police said appeared to be a case of suicide.
The news was met with an outpouring of grief by fans and other Bollywood stars with the conversation soon turning to mental health and depression.
Actress Deepika Padukone, who has talked openly of battling depression, said it was important to reach out.
"Talk. Communicate. Express. Seek help," she wrote on her Instagram account. "Remember, you are not alone. We are in this together. And most importantly, there is hope."
Image Copyright BBC NewsBBC NEWS
Report
Anushka Sharma, who co-starred with Singh in the film PK wrote, "I'm so sad and upset knowing that we lived in an environment that could not help you through any troubles you may have had."
Many others talked about how difficult it was to talk about mental health issues in India, due to a lack of understanding about it and the taboos surrounding the topic.
"The conversation about mental health in India is miles from where it should be. Many people mourning Sushant's death today snigger and gossip when someone known to them sees a shrink," tweeted Rahul Sabharwal, city editor of The Indian Express newspaper.
Another social media user, Noreen Wozar said, "Mental health really needs to become more prioritised in Indian households rather than being taboo and the - if you're depressed, "just get over it" mentality."
Report
Anushka Sharma, who co-starred with Singh in the film PK wrote, "I'm so sad and upset knowing that we lived in an environment that could not help you through any troubles you may have had."
Many others talked about how difficult it was to talk about mental health issues in India, due to a lack of understanding about it and the taboos surrounding the topic.
"The conversation about mental health in India is miles from where it should be. Many people mourning Sushant's death today snigger and gossip when someone known to them sees a shrink," tweeted Rahul Sabharwal, city editor of The Indian Express newspaper.
Another social media user, Noreen Wozar said, "Mental health really needs to become more prioritised in Indian households rather than being taboo and the - if you're depressed, "just get over it" mentality."
Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput dies at 34
Bollywood challenges mental health taboo
However, Dr Soumitra Pathare, the director of Centre for Mental Health Law and Policy, told the BBC that while it was important to have conversations around depression and suicide, he warned against conflating the two, especially in a country like India.
"Research data says that in UK and Europe, depression accounts for about 80% of suicides. But data from places like India show that there are many other reasons that someone will take their own life," he said, adding that the demography for suicide in the country was also very different.
"For instance, suicide is the number one cause of death in younger women. Many are impulsive and we have found that domestic violence is a major cause. Similarly, exam pressure among children under 18 is a leading cause, and of course there are economic causes like those that cause farmers to take their own lives in rural India," he said.
Popular for his acting in both TV and film, Rajput is perhaps best known for MS Dhoni: The Untold Story, where he played the legendary cricketer.
His funeral will be held later on Monday.
Information and support
If you or someone you know needs support for issues about emotional distress, these organisations may be able to help.
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Edition.CNN
By Rishabh Madhavendra Pratap and Elizabeth Wells, CNN
Updated 0743 GMT (1543 HKT) June 15, 2020
Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput during an interview on May 25, 2018, in New Delhi, India.
(CNN) Indian actor Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead in his Mumbai residence on Sunday, according to a statement from Mumbai police. He was 34.
Mumbai police say he took his own life, and an investigation is underway.
The actor made his debut in Hindi cinema in 2013 in "Kai Po Che!," according to the film site IMDb. He was awarded best actor (male) at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne in 2017 for his movie "M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story," in which he played Indian cricket star Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
He also played the role of Manav in the TV series Pavitra Rishta, or Sacred Ties, from 2009 to 2014.
Rajput's public relations team released a statement on behalf of the family after his death.
"It pains us to share that Sushant Singh Rajput is no longer with us. We request his fans to keep him in their thoughts and celebrate his life, and his work like they have done so far. We request the media to help us maintain privacy at this moment of grief," the statement said.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted his condolences on Sunday.
"Sushant Singh Rajput...a bright young actor gone too soon. He excelled on TV and in films. His rise in the world of entertainment inspired many and he leaves behind several memorable performances. Shocked by his passing away. My thoughts are with his family and fans. Om Shanti."
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Details about Sushant Singh Rajput’s Cremation Ceremony
by Filmfare | June 15, 2020, 14:21 IST
The news about Sushant Singh Rajput’s demise has saddened the entire country. All of 34, the actor was suffering from depression and hanged himself at his Bandra residence in Mumbai. Sushant’s entire family, the film and television industry as well as his friends are shocked on hearing the news. Several people close to him have revealed that he was going through tough times for a while now. Sushant’s cremation will take place in Mumbai today and his family has arrived for the same from Patna.
Sushant’s official spokesperson revealed where the cremation would be taking place. He said, “Actor Sushant Singh Rajput's cremation will be held today at Pawan Hans, Vile Parle.” Our condolences are with the grieving family. RIP Sushant.
Read More - Mumbai Police Reveals Sushant Singh Rajput’s Post-mortem Report
More on: Sushant Singh Rajput Cremation Ceremony, Sushant Singh Rajput, Sushant Singh Rajput Cremation
Read More - Mumbai Police Reveals Sushant Singh Rajput’s Post-mortem Report
More on: Sushant Singh Rajput Cremation Ceremony, Sushant Singh Rajput, Sushant Singh Rajput Cremation
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Mumbai Police Reveals Sushant Singh Rajput’s Post-mortem Report
by Filmfare | June 15, 2020, 13:53 IST
Yesterday, Bollywood lost a fine actor and human being in Sushant Singh Rajput. The actor reportedly was battling depression from a while. Unfortunately, he chose to end his life in his home. Just like the entire country, his family too is in a state of shock as this was something that no one saw coming.
Soon after the news broke, Mumbai police landed up at his Bandra home and took the body for a post-mortem. Today, a leading daily revealed a statement given by DCP Abhishek Trimukhe. The statement read, “Mumbai: Post-mortem of actor Sushant Singh Rajput has been conducted at Dr. RN Cooper Municipal General Hospital. Details of the post-mortem report awaited. The actor committed suicide at his residence yesterday. Provisional post-mortem report has been submitted by doctors at Bandra Police Station. Team of 3 doctors have conducted the autopsy of Sushanth Singh Rajput. The provisional cause of death is asphyxia due to hanging.”
Sushant’s family, who is residing in Patna, have left for Mumbai and will be part of the final rites that are scheduled to take place at Vile Parle today.
We send across our heartfelt condolences to his loved ones.
Read More - Sushant Singh Rajput suicide: Actor’s father arrives in Mumbai
More on: Sushant Singh Rajput Postmortem Report, Sushant Singh Rajput,
Sushant’s family, who is residing in Patna, have left for Mumbai and will be part of the final rites that are scheduled to take place at Vile Parle today.
We send across our heartfelt condolences to his loved ones.
Read More - Sushant Singh Rajput suicide: Actor’s father arrives in Mumbai
More on: Sushant Singh Rajput Postmortem Report, Sushant Singh Rajput,
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Sushant Singh Rajput Suicide: Actor’s family members Arrive in Mumbai
by Vedanshi Pathak |
June 15, 2020, 10:10 IST
In a shocking turn of events, Sushant Singh Rajput, committed suicide at his Mumbai residence yesterday. The actor was all of 34 and reports suggest that he was suffering through depression. Sushant was found hanging in his Bandra residence and the Mumbai Police confirmed that there was no note found in the house.
In a shocking turn of events, Sushant Singh Rajput, committed suicide at his Mumbai residence yesterday. The actor was all of 34 and reports suggest that he was suffering through depression. Sushant was found hanging in his Bandra residence and the Mumbai Police confirmed that there was no note found in the house.
Late last night, Sushant’s family arrived in Mumbai. The actor's relatives were snapped at the Kalina airport as he headed straight to the hospital from there.
Sushant Singh Rajput’s funeral will be held today and therefore his family arrived ahead of it last night. Here are the pictures… RIP Sushant!
More on: Sushant Singh Rajput, Sushant Singh Rajput Father Arrives in Mumbai, Sushant Singh Rajput died, Sushant Singh Rajput suicide
Sushant Singh Rajput’s funeral will be held today and therefore his family arrived ahead of it last night. Here are the pictures… RIP Sushant!
More on: Sushant Singh Rajput, Sushant Singh Rajput Father Arrives in Mumbai, Sushant Singh Rajput died, Sushant Singh Rajput suicide
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'Difficult to process': Cricket world in shock over 'disturbing' tragedy
16 Jun 2020, 11:32 a
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SBS.com.au
International Space University pays tribute to Sushant Singh Rajput
Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput speaks during a press conference to promote his movie "Raabta" in Ahmadabad, India, Tuesday, May 30, 2017. Source: AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
International Space University (ISU) in France is among those who have paid tribute to Bollywood actor Sushant Rajput who was found dead in his apartment in Mumbai earlier this week.
UPDATED
16/06/2020
BY VIVEK KUMAR
"We are deeply saddened by the dramatic news on the death of well-known Indian actor Sushant Singh Rajput," ISU said in a statement.
"Mr Singh Rajput was a believer and strong supporter of STEM education and was following ISU on social media. He had even accepted an invitation to visit ISU's Central Campus in the summer of 2019, but other agenda priorities prevented him from travelling to Strasbourg."
Highlights:
Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead at his apartment in Mumbai on Sunday.
He was studying engineering before he made his acting debut.
He was a philanthropist at heart.
Mr Rajput, a popular actor who acted in many successful films, had studied engineering.
Son of an engineer Krishna Kumar Singh, Mr Rajput was an alumnus (Batch of 2003, Mechanical Engineering) of prestigious Delhi Technological University.
He was pursuing Mechanical Engineering from the DTU but dropped out in his third year to pursue acting.
In the words of journalist and podcaster Mahim Pratap Singh, Sushant Rajput was a dreamer.
"The heartbreaking end of a dreamer: the 50 dreams," Mr Singh tweeted sharing Rajput's famous list of 50 things he wanted to do before dying.
Bollywood actor Sushant Singh posses for a picture during launch of his film Raabta in Mumbai, India, Monday, April 17, 2017.
AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool
In September last year, Sushant Singh Rajput had shared handwritten notes of the dreams he wanted to fulfil.
"I love computer gaming and always wanted to learn the language behind it. So last few weeks I’ve been trying to learn coding and it has been an extremely exciting process to say the least and yet I’m just scratching the surface," he had posted on instagram.
The list included learning to fly a plane and learn morse code.
Famous for his philanthropic activities, Rajput was involved with many educational and humanitarian actions.
He wanted to teach women self-defence techniques, work for free education and teach dance to kids and help them prepare for defence force, according to the notes he had shared on social media.
An ambulance carrying the body of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput leaves from the building he lived in Mumbai, India, Sunday, June 14, 2020.
AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool
He achieved some of his dreams, such as visiting CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, one of the world's largest and most respected centres for scientific research.
He had posted a video of this visit on twitter saying, "A big thanks to CERN for being so welcoming and making my dream come true."
Rajput allegedly committed suicide, and Mumbai Police is investigating the matter.
The news of Mr Rajput's death came as a shock to his fans.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his grief over the death of Mr Rajput saying "a bright young actor gone too soon."
"His rise in the world of entertainment inspired many, and he leaves behind several memorable performances," Mr Modi tweeted.
Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 and Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 (up to age 25).
More information about mental health is available at Beyond Blue.
To find out more about becoming a telephone volunteer, contact your local Lifeline centre.
BY VIVEK KUMAR
"We are deeply saddened by the dramatic news on the death of well-known Indian actor Sushant Singh Rajput," ISU said in a statement.
"Mr Singh Rajput was a believer and strong supporter of STEM education and was following ISU on social media. He had even accepted an invitation to visit ISU's Central Campus in the summer of 2019, but other agenda priorities prevented him from travelling to Strasbourg."
Highlights:
Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead at his apartment in Mumbai on Sunday.
He was studying engineering before he made his acting debut.
He was a philanthropist at heart.
Mr Rajput, a popular actor who acted in many successful films, had studied engineering.
Son of an engineer Krishna Kumar Singh, Mr Rajput was an alumnus (Batch of 2003, Mechanical Engineering) of prestigious Delhi Technological University.
He was pursuing Mechanical Engineering from the DTU but dropped out in his third year to pursue acting.
In the words of journalist and podcaster Mahim Pratap Singh, Sushant Rajput was a dreamer.
"The heartbreaking end of a dreamer: the 50 dreams," Mr Singh tweeted sharing Rajput's famous list of 50 things he wanted to do before dying.
Bollywood actor Sushant Singh posses for a picture during launch of his film Raabta in Mumbai, India, Monday, April 17, 2017.
AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool
In September last year, Sushant Singh Rajput had shared handwritten notes of the dreams he wanted to fulfil.
"I love computer gaming and always wanted to learn the language behind it. So last few weeks I’ve been trying to learn coding and it has been an extremely exciting process to say the least and yet I’m just scratching the surface," he had posted on instagram.
The list included learning to fly a plane and learn morse code.
Famous for his philanthropic activities, Rajput was involved with many educational and humanitarian actions.
He wanted to teach women self-defence techniques, work for free education and teach dance to kids and help them prepare for defence force, according to the notes he had shared on social media.
An ambulance carrying the body of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput leaves from the building he lived in Mumbai, India, Sunday, June 14, 2020.
AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool
He achieved some of his dreams, such as visiting CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, one of the world's largest and most respected centres for scientific research.
He had posted a video of this visit on twitter saying, "A big thanks to CERN for being so welcoming and making my dream come true."
Rajput allegedly committed suicide, and Mumbai Police is investigating the matter.
The news of Mr Rajput's death came as a shock to his fans.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his grief over the death of Mr Rajput saying "a bright young actor gone too soon."
"His rise in the world of entertainment inspired many, and he leaves behind several memorable performances," Mr Modi tweeted.
Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 and Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 (up to age 25).
More information about mental health is available at Beyond Blue.
To find out more about becoming a telephone volunteer, contact your local Lifeline centre.
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