Sushant Singh Rajput: An Inspiration and a Legend!

It has been 42 days since Sushant Singh Rajput left for his heavenly abode on the 14th of June, 2020. In this write-up, The Bollywood Elephant pays a heartfelt tribute to the late Sushant Singh Rajput. May he find semblance in his mother's arms up there.

Sushant carved your own niche in the galaxy far away yet near. We hope that we could bring him back using quantum physics by igniting chemistry. His dreams and passion are embedded in our hearts and become an immortal source of motivation. His death makes me realize the uncertainty and fear of life. His uncertain exit from our galaxy was unsettling but opened a chapter about life consumed by depression. I recall how he always wanted to be an astronaut and in one of his interviews, he said, "Let's be an actor and let's be everything" with the same energy and gusto as a naive and a simple guy with Bollywood dreams! Thereafter, he unravelled his dreams through cinema and stuck to what he believed! When I first read about Sushant, I read that an 'AIEEE AIR 7' guy is debuting in cinema with 'Kai Po Che' and when I saw you onscreen it was really hard to believe that a science guy could pull off such a phenomenal act! And that was where our horizons met and led to your discovery!

                       

Sarfaraz, Raghu, Ishaan, Byomkesh, Dhoni, Anni, Samar, Mansoor, Jilaan, Shiv and now Manny. There was not a single character that he played; he lived them! Be it Dhoni, Ishaan from 'Kai Po Che' or his small yet effective Sarfaraz from PK, Sushant infused each character as his own and his versatility and a testament to his talent came out in 'MS Dhoni: The Untold Story', where it was really hard to distinguish between the reel and the real sportsman. Sushant's filmy career was perhaps a really short one. In a matter of 8 years, Sushant did 11 movies which were either critical success (Sonchiriya, Detective Byomkesh Bakshy) or commercial success (MS Dhoni, PK, SDR) or both (Chhichore, Kedarnath). Sushant and his love for the craft were always so evident that it makes me wonder 'what if you can pursue what you desire, will you achieve it?'. The answer to this query was resolved when in one of his interviews, he said, " I am a noun in your life but a verb in mine." which was the star's signal to everyone who desired whatever they wanted and the fact that only they themselves can make things work and nobody else. His movie choices, his encouragement to new talent, and most importantly his passion and hard work for the craft he adored will always be missed. 

                                         

Sushant's bereavement has made him a deserving role model. His death has instead immortalized forever. He gave the small guys with Bollywood Dreams an example. An example which will now allow the small guys to flock to the city with the hopes of getting into this difficult and gruesome industry. His smile and his will to constantly be better than what he was will be celebrated more than the gloom his death/ the thought of his death creates. We shall celebrate and talk more about the success stories of his life in this industry. An industry that can provide work for millions and create dreams and inspirations whilst taking care of not getting lost in the abyss. 

                                    

Your movie, 'Dil Bechara' is unfortunately out on a streaming platform which by the first looks, was a Hollywood adaptation with pretty people (standard idea for a remake in Bollywood: the world where a lot of people desire to get into!) Maybe Sushant did as well. But what has followed after the movie is a number of memes and fan-made videos of the endearing Sushant Singh Rajput, which I wish was the love and recognition he could get when he was alive. Whenever I think about Sushant, I feel all the more his life has become immortal. He is just like James Dean; an actor who just did 3 movies but is still an icon. His memory will always be etched in my heart and life because when a star dies, it creates a nebula around which millions of stars will be born and I hope, remember the star that allowed them to dream and achieve!

                               

To conclude, I would just like to say a few lines from the poem 'Abhineta' which go as follows:

"Seekha Hoon Apne Tajurbe se,

Aise kisi ko bhaashan deta nahin,

Kyuki main koi neta nahi.

Jo bhi aaya dil main,

daal diya tik-tok pe,

Aisa Main Abhineta Nahin!"

We shall meet in the next life again on the big screen Seri, Sushant Singh Rajput?

                                             

Yours Lovingly,

The Bollywood Elephant!