Rhea Chakraborty has recently spoken about the profound impact the Sushant Singh Rajput death probe had on her life, including her battles with depression and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In an interview on her podcast 'Chapter 2' with Aamir Khan, she opened up about her journey of healing and resilience following the tragic event in 2020 and the subsequent media scrutiny.
Chakraborty described the years following Rajput's death as a period of intense emotional and psychological distress. "It took me so long to start chapter 2 is because I was healing all this while," she said. "There was pain, anxiety, PTSD, and whatnot. And grief has a veto power over everything else". She explained how grief could unexpectedly engulf her, making it difficult to engage with others or show interest in their lives.
The actress credited her army upbringing for instilling in her a sense of resilience and the ability to cope with difficult situations. "I think army upbringing also makes a difference," she stated. "Because you know life is tough. You have seen it from childhood that when Dad leaves, there's a possibility he may not come back. You are taught to fight and never give up. To always stay hopeful. It's just inherent in your DNA. No one can defeat you easily".
Aamir Khan praised Chakraborty for her strength and patience during the challenging time. "What happened with you, I would call it a tragedy," Khan said. "The way your life changed after that, and the way you have shown patience and strength, you didn't lose hope or faith in yourself. We all can learn a lot from that. A person's morale breaks and gets crushed. You are starting your second chapter". He also expressed hope that those who had wrongly judged her would eventually realize the truth.
Chakraborty also discussed her decision to start her own podcast, emphasizing her desire to create a safe space for authentic conversations, free from media misrepresentation. She revealed that the media coverage surrounding Rajput's death was extreme, and previous attempts to give interviews had not been positive experiences. "One of the biggest reasons why I started a podcast of my own was the fact that media went extreme with the whole episode," she said. "I tried to give interviews a couple of times, but I didn't feel good". She recounted an incident where a podcaster promised a friendly conversation but ultimately made things worse, leading her to decide against releasing that episode. "At least, in case of traditional media, I know how they are going to approach things and I go prepared," she explained. "It was that day that I decided that I want to create a safe space where I want to speak to people".
Khan also played a role in helping Chakraborty manage her anger and find peace through forgiveness, recommending she watch the documentary 'Rubaru Roshni'. Chakraborty acknowledged that she used to be extremely angry because of everything that was happening against her.
In the aftermath of Sushant Singh Rajput's death in June 2020, Rhea Chakraborty faced intense public scrutiny and legal challenges. She was subjected to investigations by multiple agencies, including the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Enforcement Directorate (ED), and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). In September 2020, she was arrested and spent nearly a month in Mumbai's Byculla Jail. In March 2025, the CBI concluded its investigation, ruling Rajput's death as a suicide and effectively clearing Chakraborty of any involvement.
