Some people internalise their problems and so did Sushant Singh Rajput
LAHORE: Sushant Singh Rajput’s death has sparked a huge debate about mental health and nepotism. He was a 34-year-old intelligent and extremely talented young man with a promising acting career ahead of him. What drove him to take such a drastic step is a mystery that will never be uncovered? But speculating his circumstances indicates that possible reasons could include lack of moral support coupled with financial problems and professional bullying.
Generally, people who commit suicide are referred to as weak. It is believed that they lack the mental and emotional strength required to deal with challenges. However, this young man had achieved a lot in a very short time. He had no godfather in the industry and was considered an outsider, so he probably had to work twice as hard. Regardless, he had successfully managed to overcome all the obstacles and challenges during the early stages of his career and had also made a successful Bollywood debut. How can such a person be called weak then? It is always easier to judge others than to understand what they are going through, so most people prefer to attach labels onto others. Social media has made it easier as just about anyone can express their views freely, with celebrities bearing the brunt of these vicious attacks the most. That alone can take a toll on anyone’s mental health. In stressful times, support is crucial to keep you grounded. Sushant was seeing a psychiatrist and was on medication. He had been replaced in several films and his career was spiraling downwards.
Sushant appears to be a victim of professional bullying and the fact that he was replaced one by one in several films means that there may have been a bigger power at work. Some people internalise their problems and so did Sushant. He had probably reached his breaking point and could not see a way out. The mind can play strange tricks on people.
Gaitee Ara Siddiqi
Published in The Express Tribune, June 25th, 2020.
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