Naseer Abdullah reflects on Sushant Singh Rajput’s death: ‘If he took drugs, so be it’

Veteran actor Naseer Abdullah recently opened up about one of the most shocking and heartbreaking losses in recent Indian cinema, the untimely death of Sushant Singh Rajput. The actor’s passing in June 2020 shook the nation and triggered a storm of media speculation, conspiracy theories, and public outcry.
While Sushant’s death was initially ruled a suicide, the narrative quickly spiraled into chaos. Allegations of drug use surfaced, and his girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty became the centre of a media trial. The industry, public, and news outlets focused heavily on the drug angle, often overshadowing the more pressing issue of mental health.
Naseer Abdullah calls for empathy over judgment
Abdullah, however, offered a different perspective. “If Sushant took drugs, so be it,” he said in an interview with The Free Press Journal, emphasizing that the issue at hand wasn’t just substance use. According to him, Sushant’s demise reflected a deeper emotional and psychological struggle, a result of mounting pressure, possible industry alienation, and the overwhelming solitude that success sometimes brings.
Abdullah points to mental health, isolation and industry pressure as contributing factors
He criticised the media for sensationalising the tragedy. “The focus should have been on his mental health, his work, and the support he needed — not on exploiting his story for ratings,” Abdullah asserted. He added that Sushant should be remembered for his brilliance, not reduced to a tabloid headline.

Meanwhile, in a recent update, Rhea Chakraborty shared a heartfelt post on social media after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) gave her a clean chit in the case. The agency found no evidence suggesting that she or anyone else pushed the actor to take his life. Rhea, who had endured relentless trolling and scrutiny during the investigation, wrote about reclaiming her life and moving forward.

Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead in his Mumbai apartment on June 14, 2020, at the age of 34. His father, KK Singh, had accused Rhea and her family of financial misconduct, a charge she consistently denied. Over time, the noise around the case dimmed, but the questions and grief lingered.