Rhea Chakraborty: The Media's Scapegoat, Now Vindicated After Three Years

The actress faced intense scrutiny and a media-driven trial after the tragic death of her boyfriend, Sushant Singh Rajput. Investigators have now determined that he died by suicide, revealing the damaging effects of public vilification on Chakraborty's life and career.

Bollywood actress Rhea Chakraborty is finally experiencing a sense of vindication as India's federal investigators have declared that the death of her boyfriend, Sushant Singh Rajput, was a suicide, absolving her and her family from any involvement. This revelation comes after a brutal media campaign in 2020 painted her as a “gold digger” and “murderer,” ultimately resulting in her imprisonment for 27 days.

Chakraborty’s attorney, Satish Maneshinde, provided a statement to the BBC, emphasizing that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had thoroughly examined the case and found no wrongdoing on her part. The special court in Mumbai is now left to decide whether to formally close the case. Maneshinde noted that Chakraborty endured "untold miseries" due to the lurid fabrications surrounding her character, which were exacerbated by sensationalist media coverage.

Feminist lawyer Payal Chawla criticized the misogynistic narratives surrounding Chakraborty, labeling them as deeply troubling and indicative of a need for societal introspection. While Chakraborty has refrained from commenting publicly since the investigation's conclusion emerged, her family appears to feel relieved. Her brother, Showik, who also faced arrest, shared a photo with Rhea expressing the notion that “truth alone prevails,” in a gesture of familial solidarity.

Sushant Singh Rajput was discovered deceased in his Mumbai residence on June 14, 2020. Initially, Mumbai police suggested that the 34-year-old had existing mental health issues, which he was treating, pointing towards suicide. Chakraborty, who had been living with Rajput, had returned to her parents’ home shortly before his tragic passing. She suffered immense personal anguish, stating, “an irreparable numbness in my heart,” in a poignant social media post mourning his loss.

The media storm intensified when Rajput's father accused Chakraborty of mishandling his son’s finances and being a contributing factor to his death, while he dismissed the actor’s mental health struggles. The accusations set off a frenzy, marking Chakraborty as the focus of national outrage amid a pandemic that kept citizens glued to their screens, watching a narrative unfold that painted her in a deeply negative light. The actress quickly became the target of online hatred, epitomized by derogatory labels and violent threats.

Prominent television personalities dedicated entire broadcasts to speculating about her supposed culpability, further escalating the public vitriol. Notably, Chakraborty was arrested three months after Rajput's death, only to be released shortly thereafter—a brief respite in her battle against the image that the media had constructed around her.

Since her release, Chakraborty has sought to rebuild her life, delving into business ventures and motivational speaking. Despite her efforts to reintegrate into the industry, she acknowledged the lasting impacts of the scandal, describing how the experience had led to health struggles, including digestive issues linked to unresolved anger.

Though the path to regaining her life remains tumultuous, various voices within the film industry and beyond have called for public apologies from those who participated in her vilification. The conversation around this ongoing issue has now reached parliamentary discussions, highlighting the dire consequences of unbridled media narratives that affect innocent lives.

With social media resurfacing old videos mocking her as the media's scapegoat, many, including fellow Bollywood stars, are urging those responsible for her public humiliation to take responsibility. As the dust settles on the case, the pressing question remains: Who bears accountability for the depths of distress caused by a sensationalized narrative that turned Chakraborty's life upside down?