Mumbai — In a candid conversation at an event organized by NDTV, actress Rhea Chakraborty spoke for the first time about her emotional journey following the tragic death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput in June 2020. Chakraborty, who was at the center of an intense media storm and spent 28 days in jail, shared her experiences and revealed a surprising detail about the day she was granted bail.
She shared that on the day the Bombay High Court granted her bail, a group of her fellow inmates requested her to dance for them. Despite her initial hesitation, she decided to perform a “naagin dance,” a whimsical dance mimicking a snake.
“I did naagin dance on the day of my bail,” she said. “I thought that we never know when I’ll meet them next and if I can give them a moment of happiness, then why not? Most of those women are innocent and hopeless in such under-trial prisons.”
On Her Clean Chit and Inability to Grieve
The conversation also touched upon the recent relief brought by the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) closure report, which cleared her of all charges in the Sushant Singh Rajput death case.
Rhea revealed that even after receiving the clean chit, she couldn’t feel truly happy. “People said he did not go because of you. I always knew I hadn’t done anything. But even when the clean chit came, I couldn’t feel happy,” she stated. Her only source of joy was the relief she felt for her parents. “I was only happy for my parents and their reputation. But, we were no longer the same carefree family, it can’t come back. That moment altered all of us completely, for our entire life.”
She also spoke about the public scrutiny she faced, which she believes prevented her from grieving privately. “Everyone thought that only they were grieving, and forgot that the person who was the closest to him suffered the biggest loss,” she said. She admitted that she wasn’t given a normal chance to grieve at the time but said that her grieving process has now ended and she is doing fine.
Background of the Case
Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead in his Mumbai home on June 14, 2020. His death triggered a series of investigations, with his father lodging a complaint against Rhea, accusing her of abetment to suicide and money laundering. Following the CBI taking over the case, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) arrested Rhea and her brother, Showik, on allegations of procuring marijuana for the late actor.
The Bombay High Court later rejected the NCB’s theory and granted them bail. The CBI has since filed a closure report, confirming the death as a case of suicide and clearing Rhea and her family of any charges.