Six years after the tragic passing of Sushant Singh Rajput, writer-director Rumi Jaffery continues to hold vivid and deeply personal memories of the actor. Recalling their friendship, Jaffery said Sushant was more than just a colleague; he had become an integral part of the family.
A Bond Beyond Cinema
Reflecting on their bond, Jaffery shared that the actor frequently visited his home with Rhea Chakraborty, spending long evenings discussing films, ideas and future plans, according to Variety India. "So close that he would be over at our home almost every evening with his girlfriend Rhea. He was very close to me, my wife and my children." Those gatherings, Jaffery says, are among the memories he cherishes the most. "We would discuss endless movies that we wanted to make together. Kahaan gayi woh shaamein (Where have those evenings gone)?"
A Curious Mind That Never Stopped Learning
While audiences knew Sushant through films such as 'Kai Po Che!', 'MS Dhoni: The Untold Story', 'Kedarnath', 'Chhichhore' and 'Dil Bechara', Jaffery remembers a man whose interests stretched far beyond cinema. According to him, Sushant constantly sought new experiences and knowledge, always eager to learn something different. "His zest for life was infectious. He wanted to deep-dive into astronomy. He had recently learnt to play the guitar. He wanted to learn more and more skills. He didn't want to limit himself to acting."
The Painful Aftermath
For Jaffery, June 14 remains a date forever associated with loss. The filmmaker admitted that while he had noticed changes in Sushant's behaviour in the months leading up to his death in 2020, the news still came as a devastating shock. "Sushant's death came as a real shock. I was aware he was not himself in the months before he left us." He says what followed was equally painful for those who genuinely cared about the actor. "But everything that has happened since then, the hatred, the accusations and counter-accusations, the ugly court cases and most of all, the targeting of his girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty… all of this was so painful for those of us who really cared about him."
Disappointment Over Opportunism
Jaffery also reflected on the frenzy that unfolded after Sushant's death, expressing disappointment over how some individuals used the tragedy for personal attention. "So many of his so-called friends suddenly showed up to claim their portion of fame. These people became famous overnight." He believes the actor would have been uncomfortable with the spectacle that followed. "In death, Sushant made so many people rich and famous. I wonder what Sushant would have thought of the tamasha that followed his death. He hated the 'instant fame' culture."
Holding on to Memories
Even after six years, Jaffery says not a day passes without thinking of his friend. In fact, he still revisits old messages from Sushant and has never been able to delete his phone number. "I still continue to read his messages on my phone. Usska number delete karne ka mann nahin karta. I still feel he's alive." For him, the actor's enthusiasm for life remains his most enduring memory. "His enthusiasm, his excitement about life was infectious. He wanted to do so many things. He wanted to act, direct films, write, and do organic farming. He wanted to live every moment of his life."
As friends, colleagues and fans remember Sushant Singh Rajput on his sixth death anniversary, Jaffery's recollections paint the picture of a restless dreamer whose ambitions extended far beyond the screen and whose absence continues to be deeply felt.
