Bollywood Actor Sushant Singh Rajput Dies at 34 After Killing Himself – Inside His Life and Career

Bollywood lost a star over the weekend after actor Sushant Singh Rajput sadly died in what the Mumbai Police are investigating as a case of suicide.

The tragic news of Sushant Singh Rajput's death was confirmed by Mumbai's police spokesperson Pranaya Ashok to The Guardian on Monday.

POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING HIS DEATH

Rajput's cook and friends that's been staying with the actor at his Bandra residence in Mumbai found his body early on Sunday afternoon after they had to call a locksmith to get into the home. After discovering his body, they phoned the police and his sister.

According to the police, they found the 34-year-old actor hanging inside his home and are currently investigating his death as a suicide. Rajput spoke to his sister around 9 am that morning, and it is said that he took tablets with a glass of juice an hour later.

WHEN HE ROSE TO FAME

Born in Patna, India, Rajput became an instant star when he got noticed while starring in the Indian soap "Pavitra Rishta" in 2009. Four years later, the 34-year-old made his Bollywood debut in the drama "Kai P Che!" which also earned him a nomination at the Filmfare for Best Male Debut.

Rajput last starred in the 2019 Netflix film "Drive," and his family reached out with a statement following news of his passing as they reportedly said:

“We request his fans to keep him in their thoughts and celebrate his life and his work like they have done so far.”

HIS DEATH HIGHLIGHTS A GLOBAL PROBLEM

The actor's death put the spotlight on mental health in India. According to the director of the Centre for Mental Health Law and Policy, Dr. Souitra Pathare said that it's crucial to open up a dialogue around suicide and depression in India - a topic reportedly not openly discussed in the country.

Dr. Pathare said that depression accounts for almost 80% of the reasons people in the UK and Europe commit suicide. In India, the picture looks very different with a different demographic as well.

Among younger women in India, suicide comes in as the number one cause of death due to domestic violence, while economic pressures make up the leading cause behind farmers taking their lives in the rural areas in India.

THE PANDEMIC ALSO CONTRIBUTES

However, with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, mental health found a more global stage as well, as people struggle to cope with the multitude of changes and challenges it brought about, such as financial instability and social isolation.

The topic got highlighted again last month when an ER doctor living in Virginia sadly ended her life following months of battling the respiratory disease alongside other healthcare workers.

According to the late doctor's family, the deaths caused by the novel coronavirus became overwhelming, and along with constant and grueling 12 hours shifts, the burden tragically became too much to bear.