Rhea Chakraborty went through a deeply challenging period after the death of actor and her then-boyfriend Sushant Singh Rajput. Following the incident, she faced intense public and media scrutiny and was subjected to widespread criticism. The situation escalated to the extent that she was also taken into custody and spent time in jail before being cleared of the allegations.
Rhea Chakraborty reflects on 27 days in prison and emotional impact
In a recent conversation with Variety India, Rhea reflected on the 27 days she spent in prison and spoke about the emotional toll of the experience. When asked about the most difficult part of that phase, she explained, “The hardest part about being in jail is being in jail. Just knowing that you are no longer part of society. You are a number. You are not a person. You are deemed unfit to live in society. You are so bad or so pathetic that you are considered harmful to society. That is why you have been put away. It really crushes your ego completely. Your self-esteem, too. You question a lot of things. Being away from family and being so uncertain about your liberty and your freedom is really challenging.”
Rhea Chakraborty says trauma changed her relationship with writing
The actress shared that she once regularly maintained a diary, treating it like a personal journal where she documented her thoughts and experiences. However, speaking about her current state, she admitted that her ability to write has been affected in the years since 2020. Reflecting on that shift, the actress said, “I have not been able to write much since 2020. I think I am scared to write. I do not know what will come out. Trauma does not leave you. You just find a way to coexist with it. The only reason to revisit that trauma would be to help someone else. I am grateful to people who shared their stories because they helped me. But I do not know if I trust society’s interpretation just yet.”
Rhea Chakraborty speaks about supporting undertrial prisoners in future
She reflected on her time in jail and said she came across several women who were innocent but unable to afford proper legal support. She expressed a desire to eventually use her platform to support such individuals once she is in a stronger position. The actress shared, “In the last five years, I have tried to wear my own oxygen mask first. I was not in a position to help anyone else until I helped myself. But I hope I get to a place where I can fight for injustices in undertrial prisons in India and help people who cannot afford representation.”
Rhea Chakraborty recalls life-changing phase after Sushant Singh Rajput’s death
Rhea’s life underwent a major shift after the death of Sushant Singh Rajput in June 2020. At the time, she was in a relationship with the actor. In September that year, she was arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau following allegations linked to WhatsApp chats involving drug-related conversations. Although she was later released on bail, she remained under travel restrictions for a considerable period.
