Rhea Chakraborty recalls life after jail: ‘People would stop laughing when I entered the room’… says she was often misunderstood

Mumbai: Actor Rhea Chakraborty has opened up about the emotional challenges she faced following the Sushant Singh Rajput case, revealing that even casual social interactions became uncomfortable as people often did not know how to behave around her.

Speaking during an appearance on comedian Tanmay Bhat’s YouTube show, Rhea reflected on the intense public scrutiny she experienced in the years after the controversy. The episode featured fellow comedians Rohan Joshi, Kushagra Srivastava, Aaditya Kulshreshth, and Piyush Sharma, with the group reacting to internet memes and discussing how controversies can affect public perception.

Recalling those difficult days, Rhea shared that whenever she entered a room where people were laughing or joking, the atmosphere would suddenly change.

She said people would instantly become serious and begin speaking to her with unusual sympathy, making ordinary conversations feel awkward. According to the actress, even when she tried to joke about her own experiences, many people were unsure whether it was appropriate to laugh.

During the conversation, Tanmay Bhat compared Rhea’s experience with the public reaction he faced after the AIB controversy, saying that people often treated him differently during that period as well.

The discussion also revisited one of the most widely discussed incidents from the media coverage surrounding Rhea, when her WhatsApp message reading “Imma bounce” was allegedly misunderstood and interpreted by a television news channel as a reference to a “cheque bounce.” The comedians joked about the misunderstanding, with Rhea joining in and laughing about how cautious she has become while texting.

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Humorously referring to the incident, Rhea remarked that whenever someone now sends her a message with an ambiguous phrase, she asks them to be more specific to avoid any confusion.

At one point, she jokingly told the panel that they seemed to find her trauma entertaining, adding that she was glad someone was finally laughing about it. The light-hearted exchange reflected how the actress now chooses to look back at one of the most difficult chapters of her life with humour.

Rhea’s life came under intense public attention after the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput in June 2020. She was investigated in multiple cases, including a drugs-related probe by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), and was later granted bail.

In 2025, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a closure report, stating that it found no evidence to support allegations of murder or abetment against Rhea and others. The report was subsequently accepted by a Mumbai court.

Since then, the actress has gradually returned to the entertainment industry through reality shows, interviews, podcasts, and acting projects. By openly discussing her past experiences, Rhea continues to share how public perception, media attention, and personal resilience have shaped her journey.