Sushant Singh Rajput’s suicide has sent shockwaves in the film industry. Filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari spoke to me a while ago.



In terrible news that’s just come in, actor Sushant Singh Rajput has committed suicide. Not much more is known as of now, and the news itself is so sudden, so shocking that it has been extremely difficult to process. As per preliminary investigation, Sushant was found hanging at his Bandra residence.

One of the few actors who successfuly made the transition from television superstardom to big screen success, Sushant was best known for his dynamic portrayal of cricketing icon M S Dhoni in Neeraj Pandey’s biopic. Last year, he starred in Chhichhore, a film that not only got critical acclaim, but was also a big hit.

Chhichhore director Nitesh Tiwari spoke to me a while ago. 

We are hearing terrible news about Sushant Singh Rajput…

I really have no idea what happened. How do you even react to this? It’s too sudden, too shocking.

You, of course, directed him in the immensely successful Chhichhore. Were you in touch with him recently? 

I was in touch with him. We would send messages to each other off and on. Nothing he ever said led me to believe that something like this would happen.

Can you reflect on what he was like, as a person?

He was very positive, full of enthusiasm. I am not able to use the word ‘was’ because I cannot think of him in the past sense. Both on set and otherwise, I found him full of ideas, wanting to do so much in life. He had so many plans, so many dreams. He was doing so many things apart from acting, and then you hear something like this. It’s like a sudden jolt that you don’t know how to react to. I don’t understand, I just don’t understand.

Do you think this could be a fallout of the pandemic and its economic rammifications, with no work, no employment…  

I don’t think that could be the reason with Sushant Singh Rajput. He was a promising superstar. He has had great success behind his belt. He was very talented. I just cannot fathom… I don’t know.

I don’t think I will want to speak on camera for a while, I may just end up crying.

Thank you for speaking to me in these difficult times. Take care.
Thank you.