Suicidal Instinct: The Echo of an Unfinished Legacy

 

June 14, 2020. The media and the masses alike woke up to the alarming news of Sushant Singh Rajput's death. The actor who reportedly watched hours of Mahendra Singh Dhoni's batting style just to grasp his facial muscle movements had committed suicide?

Like any case that captures widespread media attention, this one was no different. Speculations ranged from suicide due to depression to allegations of murder, with several individuals accused of being involved. As the investigation unfolded, no one escaped the internet's vigilantism—not even the broader reality of the film industry in which he worked. Every door was knocked on, every theory was pursued and every "serpent" was brought out into the open.

After years of investigations, trials and relentless public scrutiny, the case was finally put to rest on March 23, 2025, with the conclusion that Sushant Singh Rajput had died by suicide and that none of the alleged parties had any involvement in the tragedy.

Have you ever wondered why certain things that deserve a full stop are never allowed one? Instead they are dragged on, stretched far beyond the point where they should have ended.

What followed after Sushant Singh Rajput's death was an unfortunate backlash against the Bollywood industry—yes, the very same Bollywood that had long been accustomed to immense influence and dominance, rarely facing scrutiny on such a scale. The truth is, the industry was unprepared for what hit it. Never before had an industry known for its overwhelming reach found itself at the receiving end of such widespread public anger, condemnation and countless narratives, many driven more by emotion than evidence.

As an observer, I choose not to comment on or bias myself based on a case whose legal conclusion was reached over a year ago. At the same time, watching films remains one of my favorite pastimes and I have always admired genuine talent wherever it exists. In that regard, Sushant Singh Rajput was undoubtedly one of those rare talents and was never a stranger to that list.

But if you have been following media discussions lately, have you noticed a subtle shift in the narrative? Increasingly, the conversation seems to revolve around establishing Sushant Singh Rajput's alleged addictions, partying lifestyle, flirtatious nature and even claims of infidelity.

I did not know the man personally. Like millions of others, I only knew him through the films I watched. But one question keeps coming to mind: how relevant is this shift in narrative today and to whom does it really matter? Isn't it already time that you put it down to rest.

On one hand, the industry had to endure an unprecedented public backlash that threatened its image and credibility. On the other, wasn't Sushant Singh Rajput one of its own? He contributed significantly to that very fraternity. And the flaws now being discussed—whether true, exaggerated or entirely speculative—are hardly unique to him. They are traits and controversies that continue to surface across the same industry even today. Can we really deny that he too was simply a human being with virtues and imperfections like anyone else?

To me, this change in narrative appears less like an attempt to understand the man and more like an attempt to reshape the story around him. Perhaps it is a form of damage control; perhaps it is simply the natural evolution of public discourse. Either way, it seems driven less by a genuine desire to revisit a long-settled chapter and more by the industry's instinct to reclaim its image. After all, Bollywood has always been a fraternity that thrives on trends—and even years later, Sushant Singh Rajput's story continues to trend.

But have you ever stopped to think about why his story still has the power to trend, even years later?

Perhaps it is because Sushant Singh Rajput was never just another actor. He was a remarkably versatile performer who made the rare transition from television to becoming a leading man on the silver screen. Beyond cinema, his life reflected an insatiable curiosity. A National Physics Olympiad winner, he cleared 11 engineering entrance examinations and secured an All India Rank of 7 in the AIEEE before eventually dropping out of college to pursue acting.

Yet his ambitions never stopped at films. From becoming one of India's most successful young actors to undergoing astronaut familiarization training at NASA's Space Center, from owning an advanced telescope to pursue his passion for stargazing, from symbolically purchasing land on the Moon to funding and co-founding ventures in artificial intelligence and virtual reality—he embodied the idea that success need not be confined to a single field.

Among countless celebrities, he was one of the few who genuinely earned the right to be regarded as an icon—not merely because of his achievements, but because of the relentless curiosity with which he lived.

Whatever the reasons behind his decision to commit suicide, one thought remains difficult to ignore: he deserved the chance to complete his dreams, to tick off every item on his bucket list, to witness his own growth and to continue building the life he had envisioned. That, perhaps, is why his story still resonates. It is not only about how he died, but about the extraordinary potential of the life that was left unfinished.