My closest interaction with Sushant Singh Rajput was at Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport(Mumbai) when i was coming from IIT Bombay after my written test for M.Tech admission, June of 2019. I distinctly remember him as this tall hunky guy with a smile and Rhea Chakraborty on his side. It was quite early in the morning 4 or 5 Am. Not much fanfare was there to greet him.

I am no celebrity nor i am someone who Sushant would have recognised 😛 . So, i stayed put and just watched an icon checking in his luggage like a normal guy. Its not in my nature to go for autographs, as i find it a bit of a hassle but when it comes to Sushant i really wanted to have a heart to heart chat with him instead of just taking his autograph.

I thought maybe someday an opportunity comes up and i am able to take his interview. Sadly, no longer possible after he committed suicide in his apartment ! Honestly, i seldom watch bollywood movies, for obvious reasons. Watching a bollywood movie is like witnessing a shit storm right in your face. Remixed songs, screenplay revolving around pyar-mohabbat, mindless cinematic scenes/stunts, stupid storylines. The consistency and dedication shown by the 100 crore club in respawning bullshit timely is really astonishing.

Sushant was a brilliant actor, a very talented guy with interests in cosmology, space, coding and even religion. He was also sensitive and an introvert. All the signs of an evolved soul !

Nepotism is an issue which is close to my heart because i myself have been a victim of it while i was in college and was heading a technical club. But that is a story better conveyed later. Coming to the point of “Bollywood mein nepotism nai hai ! ” (Bollywood has no nepotism). By the way what does nepotism mean? Dicitionary defines it as “the practice among those with power or influence of favouring relatives or friends, especially by giving them jobs.” OK? Hmmm

And of course the whole Kapoor family, the Khan family and the Pataudi family. Researching about them is like studying a new subject altogether. Henceforth, when someone comes up and says that “Bollywood mai nepotism nai hai! ” I can only wonder at the height of stupidity, callousness and ignorance one has dwelved into.

Bollywood mai neptoism hai beta, barabar hai !!! Even it is the sole reason why our film industry is in such a state as it is now. Any cinematic experience must have a feel good factor. I am not talking about only social changes here. A film should resonate with our society as it is presently, only than can it be successfull. Sushant Singh Rajput proved just that by doing meaningful films like Kai Po Che! , Chichore, Dhoni and many many more. Here’s a list.

He was critically acclaimed for the films he did but still the bollywood industry-: a syndicate controlled by a dozen film producers/directors didn’t accept him as he was because if they did their own sons and daughters would have lost their jobs in some of the movies.

If the news sources are to be beleived, Sushant lost 7 Films In 6 Months. Very disappointing for such a tremendous/talented actor. And maybe a trigger, compelling him to take such a drastic step. There are investigations going on inspecting a foul play, as of now nothing concrete hinting on it has emerged. The official statement from the authorities is still revolving around suicide.

However, the topic of nepotism which is heart of the issue must be taken into grave consideration and another topic which is of equal importance if not greater is “Depression”. Yes, mental health is still a taboo in our country. Sushant was depressed and was taking medication since many months.

I have seen some of my friends and acquaintances struggling with the same. Mental health is seldom discussed in our country, depression being something alien to our Indian culture. Until and unless the issue is tangible we are unable to take heed of it.

Now when a celebrity is dead as a victim of depression associated with nepotism. We are talking about it. Depression can happen to anyone and that too without a cause sometimes. Opening up and letting people reach you is always a solution. Still, the fear of getting judged or ridiculed by people stops a person from doing just that.

In some of his last tweets Sushant said and, the tweet reads, “We men are not asked about our health, our mental state, our lives, our thoughts. We are not treated that way. I know I have been through a lot lately. I have been tired of trying so hard. It’s been a long journey with you people. I don’t know why I’m tweeting this..”

https://www.businessupturn.com/entertainment/celebrity/is-this-sushant-singh-rajputs-suicide-note-that-he-tweeted-and-deleted-from-twitter-in-the-wee-hours-of-14th-june/

Heart-wrenching, but true indeed !!!

Even any issue concerning men is downplayed. As the society considers men to be strong enough to deal with everything in our lives. Mental issues more so because how can a macho f*cking man with 6 pack abs suffer from mental issues ryt?

Depression can happen to anyone anywhere. Even depression can happen at an early age.

Indian Parents have failed at parenting. With their preconceived notions of success forcefully imposing them on their children, have led to mental issues cropping up in childhood itself. With no proper counselling centres or guidance children succumb to it at an early age.

Lack of awareness of these issues, related taboos and coercing Indian Parents lead to a “clusterf*ck” which has no immediate solution.

Healing happens overtime and only when the affected person acknowledges these issues. Once you have, the healing journey begins and hopefully the patient recovers eventually.

Having a spiritual anchor surely stabilises one’s mind. When one understands clearly that we are here on earth due to karma which we have to exhaust and the associated experiences are a part of it. Whether good or bad. We enter in a state of witnesshood. Unaffected by the said experiences.

For those who might not beleive in the spiritual stuff going to a counsellor helps enormously.

In my conversations with psychologists who treat clinical depression Feeling good by David Burns an ebook is strongly recommended worth reading. A really effective one if you ask me.

Suicide can never be an option. Nor suffering is one.

Help, Heal, Thrive !

The least we could do to honour this brilliant actor is to listen more and judge less.

Love Always ❤

P.S-:

If you need help in your journey of battling depression or just someone you might want to open upto. Please feel free to reach at writingconsciously@gmail.com . :)))