Sushant Singh Rajput

Sushant Singh Rajput (21 January 1986 – 14 June 2020) was an Indian actor known for his contributions to Hindi cinema and television. Rising to prominence through television soap operas, he successfully transitioned to become a leading actor in Bollywood, earning critical acclaim and commercial success. His career was marked by versatile performances in films such as "M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story" (2016) and "Chhichhore" (2019), before his untimely death in 2020.

Early Life and Education

Born in Patna, Bihar, to Krishna Kumar Singh and Usha Singh, Rajput was the youngest of five siblings. His father worked as a technical officer at Bihar State Handloom Corporation. Following his mother's death in 2002, the family relocated to Delhi, where he completed his intermediate studies at Kulachi Hansraj Model School.

Rajput demonstrated exceptional academic prowess, particularly in physics, winning the National Olympiad. He secured admission to Delhi College of Engineering (now Delhi Technological University) for mechanical engineering. Despite his academic achievements, Rajput harbored aspirations in performance arts and entertainment, being particularly influenced by Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan.

Career

Television Breakthrough (2006-2011)

While pursuing engineering, Rajput enrolled in Shiamak Davar's dance classes and Barry John's acting courses. This led him to drop out of engineering in 2006 to pursue a career in arts and performance. After moving to Mumbai, he joined Nadira Babbar's theatre group Ekjute, where he spent two and a half years honing his craft.

His television debut came through Balaji Telefilms' "Kis Desh Mein Hai Meraa Dil" (2008), where he played Preet Singh Juneja. His breakthrough role was as Manav Deshmukh in "Pavitra Rishta" (2009-2011), which established him as a leading television actor and earned him several awards, including the Indian Television Academy Award for Best Actor.

Bollywood Career (2013-2020)

Rajput made his film debut with "Kai Po Che!" (2013), earning a Filmfare Award nomination for Best Male Debut. His subsequent performances in "Shuddh Desi Romance" (2013) and "PK" (2014) further solidified his position in the industry. His portrayal of detective Byomkesh Bakshi in "Detective Byomkesh Bakshy!" (2015) showcased his versatility as an actor.

His career reached new heights with "M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story" (2016), where his portrayal of cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni received widespread acclaim and several award nominations. The film became one of the highest-grossing Indian films of 2016. His later works included "Kedarnath" (2018) and "Chhichhore" (2019), both commercial successes.

Entrepreneurial Ventures

In 2018, Rajput co-founded Innsaei Ventures, investing ₹300 crore in the company focused on intellectual property and emerging technologies. He was appointed as a brand ambassador for NITI Aayog's Women Entrepreneurship Platform and the BHIM mobile payment app. In 2020, he founded the nonprofit Front India for World Foundation, aimed at addressing poverty, hunger, and healthcare issues.

Personal Life

Rajput's personal life attracted significant media attention, particularly his relationships with actress Ankita Lokhande (2010-2016) and later with Rhea Chakraborty. He maintained diverse intellectual interests, including astronomy and physics, owning a Meade LX-600 16" telescope and maintaining a collection of 125 books covering various scientific disciplines.

Death and Aftermath

On 14 June 2020, Rajput was found dead at his residence in Bandra, Mumbai. The postmortem report concluded suicide by hanging, though the death sparked multiple investigations. The case led to investigations by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Enforcement Directorate (ED), and Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), with various legal proceedings involving his girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty and others.

Legacy

Rajput's final film, "Dil Bechara" (2020), was released posthumously on Disney+ Hotstar, breaking viewership records with approximately 95 million viewers in its first 24 hours. His career spanned television, film, and entrepreneurship, marked by critically acclaimed performances and commercial successes. He appeared twice on Forbes India's Celebrity 100 list (2017, 2019) and received numerous awards and nominations, including the Screen Award for Best Male Debut and the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne Award for Best Actor.

Filmography

Notable Films

• Kai Po Che! (2013)
• PK (2014)
• M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story (2016)
• Kedarnath (2018)
• Chhichhore (2019)
• Dil Bechara (2020) - posthumous release

Television Series

• Kis Desh Mein Hai Meraa Dil (2008-2009)
• Pavitra Rishta (2009-2011)
• Zara Nachke Dikha (2010)
• Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 4 (2010-2011)