Who Was Sushant Singh Rajput?

Sushant Singh Rajput (January 21, 1986 – June 14, 2020) was an Indian actor who worked primarily in Hindi cinema. He started his career in television before moving to Bollywood, where he became known for choosing varied, often unconventional roles.

Over a career spanning roughly a decade, he built a reputation as a versatile performer, an avid learner, and one of the few mainstream Bollywood actors with a strong engineering and science background before entering the entertainment industry.

Key Takeaways

  • Sushant Singh Rajput secured a top All India Rank in AIEEE before leaving engineering for acting.
  • He rose to fame through television, especially the show Pavitra Rishta.
  • His major films include Kai Po Che!, M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story, and Chhichhore.
  • His last film, Dil Bechara, was released after his death in 2020.
  • He passed away on June 14, 2020; official medical and forensic findings pointed to suicide.

Early Life and Family

Sushant Singh Rajput was born in Patna, Bihar, and grew up in a middle-class family. His father, K.K. Singh, worked in a government department, and his mother, Usha Singh, was a homemaker who passed away in 2002.

He was the youngest of five siblings, with four elder sisters. Reports describe him as a curious and academically strong student from an early age, with a particular interest in physics and astronomy that stayed with him throughout his life.

Education and College Details

Sushant completed his early schooling at Kulachi Hansraj Model School in Delhi, where he was known for excelling in science and mathematics. He also won a National Talent Search Examination (NTSE) scholarship during his school years.

Which college did Sushant Singh Rajput attend? After school, he enrolled at Delhi College of Engineering (DCE), now known as Delhi Technological University (DTU), to study Mechanical Engineering.

DetailInformation
SchoolKulachi Hansraj Model School, Delhi
CollegeDelhi College of Engineering (now DTU)
Field of StudyMechanical Engineering
StatusLeft before completing the degree

Sushant Singh Rajput's JEE Rank and Engineering Journey

What was Sushant Singh Rajput's JEE rank? Sushant is widely reported to have secured an All India Rank of 7 in the AIEEE (All India Engineering Entrance Examination) in 2003. This is one of the most frequently cited facts about his pre-acting life and is often used to highlight his strong academic foundation.

He used this rank to secure admission into Delhi College of Engineering. During his time there, he was also active in extracurricular activities, including dance, which would later influence his career path.

Quick Fact: Sushant reportedly scored an All India Rank of 7 in AIEEE 2003, making him one of the rare mainstream Bollywood actors with a top-tier engineering entrance rank.

Why He Left Engineering

Why did Sushant Singh Rajput leave engineering? During college, Sushant joined Shiamak Davar's dance institute, where his passion for performing arts began to grow. He also trained at Barry John's acting school in Delhi.

As his interest in dance and acting deepened, he made the decision to leave Delhi College of Engineering in his final year, just before completing his degree, to pursue a full-time career in the performing arts. This was widely reported as a difficult but deliberate choice driven by passion rather than circumstance.

  • Joined Shiamak Davar's dance troupe as a backup dancer.
  • Trained in acting under Barry John's institute.
  • Left engineering in his final year to focus on performing arts.
  • Moved to Mumbai to pursue theatre and television opportunities.

Entry into Television Industry

Sushant began his acting career in Indian television. He first appeared in a supporting role in the show Kis Desh Mein Hai Meraa Dil before gaining widespread recognition with the lead role of Manav Deshmukh in Pavitra Rishta (2009–2011).

Pavitra Rishta became one of the most popular Indian television shows of its time and established Sushant as a household name, paving the way for his transition to Bollywood.

Advertisement

Bollywood Career and Major Movies

Sushant made his Bollywood debut with Kai Po Che! (2013), an adaptation of Chetan Bhagat's novel The 3 Mistakes of My Life. The film was both a critical and commercial success and earned him several Best Debut awards.

He went on to build a diverse filmography across genres including drama, romance, biopic, and thriller.

Notable Films

  • Kai Po Che! (2013) — His debut film, widely praised.
  • Shuddh Desi Romance (2013) — A romantic comedy that showcased his range.
  • PK (2014) — A supporting role in one of Bollywood's highest-grossing films.
  • Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! (2015) — A period mystery thriller.
  • M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story (2016) — A biopic on cricketer M.S. Dhoni, widely regarded as his career-defining performance.
  • Kedarnath (2018) — A romantic drama set against the 2013 Uttarakhand floods.
  • Chhichhore (2019) — A comedy-drama that became a major box-office and critical success.
  • Drive (2019) — An action thriller released on a streaming platform.
  • Dil Bechara (2020) — His final film, released posthumously.

Awards and Achievements

Sushant received recognition from multiple award bodies during his career, particularly for his performances in Kai Po Che! and M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story.

  • Multiple Best Male Debut awards for Kai Po Che! (2014).
  • Critical acclaim and nominations for his role in M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story.
  • Recognition for his performance in Chhichhore, one of his most commercially successful films.

Sushant Singh Rajput's Last Movie

What was Sushant Singh Rajput's last movie? His last released film was Dil Bechara (2020), a Hindi adaptation of John Green's novel The Fault in Our Stars. The film was released on Disney+ Hotstar on July 24, 2020, more than a month after his death, and was made available for free as a tribute.

Before Dil Bechara, his last theatrically released live-action film was Chhichhore (2019). He had also completed work on the action thriller Drive, which released on Netflix in 2019.

Quick Fact: Dil Bechara was Sushant Singh Rajput's final film. It was released for free on Disney+ Hotstar as a tribute to the actor and became one of the most-watched Indian streaming releases of that year.

Sushant Singh Rajput's Last Instagram Post

Sushant's last Instagram post was a tribute to his late mother, Usha Singh, shared on the anniversary of her passing. The post reflected on grief, memory, and his bond with her, and was widely shared after his death as fans revisited his final public message.

This post is frequently cited in media coverage as one of the more emotionally significant pieces of content from his final days.

Sushant Singh Rajput's Reported Last Words

What were Sushant Singh Rajput's last words? Various media reports have cited statements attributed to people who interacted with him in his final days, including household staff and associates. However, these accounts have not been independently or uniformly verified, and different reports have offered varying versions.

Because no single, officially confirmed account of his exact last words exists, this article does not present any specific quote as definitive fact. Readers should treat such claims as reported statements rather than verified history.

Editorial Note: Claims about an individual's exact last words are inherently difficult to verify, especially when reported secondhand. We have chosen not to repeat unverified quotes as fact, in line with our commitment to accuracy.
Advertisement

Death and Investigation (Fact-Based Only)

How did Sushant Singh Rajput die? Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead at his residence in Bandra, Mumbai, on June 14, 2020. The Mumbai Police initially registered the case and began an investigation, examining statements from family, friends, and staff.

Following public pressure and a request from his family, the case was later transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Multiple agencies were involved in the investigation, including:

  • The Mumbai Police, which conducted the initial inquiry.
  • The CBI, which took over the criminal investigation.
  • The Enforcement Directorate (ED), which examined related financial matters.
  • The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), which investigated drug-related angles connected to the case.
  • A medical board at AIIMS Delhi, which reviewed forensic and postmortem findings.

The AIIMS medical board, after reviewing the postmortem report, stated that the findings were consistent with death by suicide and found no evidence of foul play in the medical examination.

Suicide vs Murder Debate (Neutral and Evidence-Based)

Sushant Singh Rajput's death generated significant public debate and media speculation, with some sections of the public and media raising the possibility of foul play. This led to extensive coverage, social media campaigns, and calls for further investigation.

It is important to distinguish between officially confirmed findings and public speculation:

  • Official findings: The AIIMS medical board and forensic reports concluded the death was consistent with suicide.
  • Public speculation: Various theories, including allegations of murder, circulated widely on social media and in some television coverage, but these were not substantiated by the official investigative or forensic findings.
  • CBI investigation status: The CBI investigation examined multiple angles, including the suicide theory, but did not produce findings that contradicted the medical conclusion.

This article presents only verified, officially reported findings and does not endorse unverified theories.

Public Reactions

Sushant's death triggered an outpouring of grief from fans, colleagues, and the film industry. It also sparked broader public conversations about mental health, nepotism in Bollywood, and the pressures faced by actors from outside the industry's traditional family networks.

  • Massive tributes poured in from actors, directors, and political figures.
  • Renewed national conversation around mental health awareness and seeking help.
  • Debate around outsider versus insider dynamics in the Hindi film industry.
  • Extensive, sometimes controversial, media coverage of the investigation.

Legacy and Impact on Indian Cinema

Sushant Singh Rajput is remembered for his commitment to authenticity in his roles, often spending months learning skills specific to his characters, such as cricket techniques for M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story.

His death also contributed to a wider, ongoing conversation in the Indian film industry about mental health support, nepotism, and opportunities for actors without industry backgrounds. Several initiatives and scholarships have since been created in his name, particularly supporting students interested in science and space studies, reflecting his lifelong passion for astronomy.

Interesting Facts About Sushant Singh Rajput

  • He was deeply interested in astronomy and even owned a share in a piece of land on the Moon through a novelty registry.
  • He trained extensively in contemporary dance before becoming an actor.
  • He learned to fly aircraft and held a private pilot's license.
  • He was an avid reader, often discussing books and science on social media.
  • He invested time in learning specific skills for roles, including astrophysics-related knowledge for an upcoming unfinished project.
Advertisement