Rhea Chakraborty’s Friend Recalls The Emotional Toll After Sushant Singh Rajput’s Death: ‘Rhea Became The Scapegoat’

Sushant Singh Rajput's girlfriend, Rhea Chakraborty, and her brother, Showik, were accused of being involved in his death.

Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead in his Mumbai home on June 14, 2020.

Source : Instagram/@rhea_chakraborty

The tragic death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput sent shockwaves through the film industry. His girlfriend, Rhea Chakraborty, and her brother, Showik, were accused of being involved in his death. However, the CBI's final report has cleared both Rhea and Showik of any wrongdoing. In a recent interview with Indian Express, actor Rhea Chakraborty’s friend, Nidhi Hiranandani, opened up about the hardships her family faced.

Rhea Chakraborty's friend talks about the impact of Sushant Singh Rajput's death

Nidhi described Sushant and Rhea's relationship as full of love. She shared how, when Rhea was first questioned in the case, she stayed in touch with her. Nidhi explained that Rhea and her family couldn’t properly grieve, as they were thrown into survival mode. She also remembered Rhea returning home bruised after being mobbed by journalists during her first media trial. Watching this on TV, Nidhi sat with Rhea’s mother, feeling helpless as they suffered.

She said, “Initially, there was a lot of disbelief. We couldn’t process where all this was coming from. We were all just coming to terms with all that had happened, and I remember how shattered Rhea and Showik were. Indrajit and Sandhya treated Sushant like family, and he also did the same. I saw how they broke down, their mental health was already suffering. What Rhea went through was unprecedented. I felt very helpless seeing their life being ripped apart. The family wanted to lead with grace, they wanted it to end. We were begging and pleading with people to talk for us, but nobody wanted to. There was a wave of hatred, and everybody was riding on it. Nobody wanted to focus on the truth, but they wanted this person to hate. Rhea became the scapegoat.”

She remembered Rhea's parents being "shattered, breaking down" after her arrest. Nidhi added that Rhea’s mother lost her ability to speak, spending hours in the temple with folded hands, silently praying for their safety and protection.

Talking about the impact on Showik, Nidhi said, “Showik was just 23, he was giving his CAT exams. He got admission to the most prestigious colleges, but he couldn’t go. Rhea lost her career, she couldn’t do any film. So much was taken from them. Showik was denied admission to most of the colleges because the case was going on. From a boy, he became a man who now wants to build his life and bring stability to the family. He lost his youth, his carefree days. Both Rhea and Showik had to grow up overnight.”

Sushant Singh Rajput death

Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead in his Mumbai home on June 14, 2020. His father filed a complaint accusing Rhea of abetting his suicide. Rhea and her brother, Showik, were questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) over money laundering allegations. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) also arrested them, claiming they supplied marijuana to Sushant. However, the court rejected these claims, and they were granted bail. Five years later, on March 23, the CBI officially cleared both Rhea and Showik of any involvement in Sushant's death.