Did Bollywood forget Sushant Singh Rajput? Industry largely silent on sixth death anniversary

Six years after the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, the relative silence from Bollywood on social media has caught the attention of fans, with many questioning whether the industry has moved on from publicly remembering the late star. 

Unlike previous years, when actors, filmmakers and close associates routinely shared heartfelt posts marking his birth anniversary, death anniversary or milestones related to his films, this year's remembrance was largely limited to family members, fans and a handful of exceptions.

Among those who had paid tribute to Rajput in the past are Kriti Sanon, Sara Ali Khan, Shraddha Kapoor, Parineeti Chopra, Rajkummar Rao, Amit Sadh, filmmaker Abhishek Kapoor, Disha Patani, Jacqueline Fernandez and Rhea Chakraborty. However, none of them posted dedicated messages on social media on the actor's sixth death anniversary.

Bhumi Pednekar emerged as the only prominent Bollywood personality to publicly remember Rajput, sharing a tribute linked to their acclaimed film 'Sonchiriya'.

Even Ankita Lokhande, who was once in a relationship with the actor and has often spoken about him publicly, did not post a separate message. She did, however, reshare fan-made tributes featuring scenes from their television show on her Instagram Stories.

While Bollywood largely remained quiet, Rajput's family ensured his memory was honoured. His sisters, Shweta Singh Kirti and Priyanka Singh, shared emotional messages on social media, remembering the actor and reflecting on his legacy.

Fans also flooded social media platforms with photographs, video edits and messages celebrating Rajput's life and career. Many recalled his performances in films such as 'Kai Po Che!', 'Detective Byomkesh Bakshy!', 'M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story', 'Kedarnath', 'Sonchiriya' and 'Chhichhore'.

Rajput was found dead at his residence in Mumbai's Bandra area on June 14, 2020. He was 34. Reports at the time stated that he had shown signs of clinical depression and had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

The case triggered nationwide attention and intense media scrutiny. In July 2020, Rajput's family filed a police complaint in Patna, accusing actress Rhea Chakraborty and five others of abetment to suicide.

Months after his death, audiences saw Rajput on screen one final time in 'Dil Bechara', the coming-of-age romantic drama that was released posthumously in 2020 and became an emotional farewell for millions of fans.

(IANS)