Rhea Chakraborty on Life After Sushant Singh Rajput’s Death: ‘Dad Was Fired, Brother Lost IIM Seat’

Actor Rhea Chakraborty has opened up about the difficult years that followed the death of Sushant Singh Rajput, revealing how the intense scrutiny surrounding the case affected not only her career but also her family.

Speaking to filmmaker Farah Khan on her YouTube vlog, Rhea recalled how she, her brother Shovik Chakraborty and their father faced professional and personal setbacks after Rajput’s death in 2020.

Rhea said that at one point, it felt as though society had completely turned against her family.

“We used to be just sitting at home. In a way, we were cancelled by society,” she said, explaining that she was unable to find film work while Shovik struggled to secure employment.

‘Dad was fired’ after hospital discovered he was Rhea’s father

Rhea said the repercussions extended even to her father, a retired army officer.

According to the actor, her father had secured a senior position as a medical superintendent at a prominent hospital. However, she claimed that the hospital later discovered his connection to her and he was forced to leave the job.

She recalled the reaction after the hospital learned his identity, saying: “Sir, you are Rhea Chakraborty’s father.”

According to Rhea, her father subsequently had to give up the position.

The revelation highlights how the controversy surrounding the actor extended beyond her own professional life and affected members of her family as well.

Rhea says brother Shovik lost IIM opportunity

Rhea also spoke about her brother Shovik, who she said had performed strongly in the CAT examination, scoring 97%.

According to Rhea, Shovik had secured admission to an Indian Institute of Management (IIM) and the family had already paid the required fees.

However, his arrest in connection with the drug investigation following Rajput’s death disrupted his education.

Rhea said that Shovik was arrested in the same year he achieved his CAT score and that by the time he returned, he had lost an academic term.

She recalled:“He had got into IIM. Then he lost the trimester. All this happened. We came out. Then there was no work.”

Rhea said the experience left both siblings with the feeling that they could no longer depend on others to rebuild their lives.

‘Nobody offered me films’

Rhea also described the professional consequences she experienced after Rajput’s death.

She said that after being released from custody, she found it extremely difficult to restart her career.

According to the actor, she was not offered films, while Shovik struggled to find a corporate job.

The family, she said, effectively found themselves isolated from opportunities.

That period eventually pushed Rhea and Shovik towards building something independently rather than waiting for conventional career opportunities to return.

How Chapter 2 came into existence

The brother-sister duo eventually launched Chapter 2, a clothing brand that later expanded into a podcast and other creative ventures.

Rhea said the idea came from their desire to create something of their own after repeatedly facing professional setbacks.

Interestingly, she connected the idea behind the clothing brand to a T-shirt she wore around the time of her arrest.

The T-shirt carried the message:

“Roses are red, Violets are Blue, Let’s smash the patriarchy me and you.”

Rhea said the garment had been gifted to her by an NGO and later went viral on social media.

She described the T-shirt as something that “spoke” for her at a time when she felt unable to speak for herself.

That experience eventually inspired the siblings to create clothing carrying messages that could give people a voice.

Rhea said Chapter 2 has been doing well and has helped the siblings rebuild their lives.

Rhea was arrested in drug case following Rajput’s death

The fallout began after Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead at his Mumbai residence in June 2020.

Rhea, who was dating Rajput at the time, came under intense scrutiny and was named in allegations surrounding his death. Rajput’s family also made allegations against Rhea and members of her family.

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) subsequently arrested Rhea in a drug-related investigation connected to the case. She spent nearly a month in prison. Her brother Shovik was also arrested.

The NCB had accused the siblings of involvement in arranging drug deliveries for Rajput, allegations that became part of the wider investigation.

Separate cases and allegations involving abetment to suicide, criminal intimidation and financial irregularities also emerged during the investigation.

CBI closure report changed the legal picture

The legal picture later changed significantly.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) submitted a closure report in the Sushant Singh Rajput death case in March 2025. The report reportedly found insufficient evidence to substantiate allegations including abetment to suicide and other accusations against Rhea and her family.

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The development brought an important conclusion to years of investigation and speculation surrounding Rhea’s role in Rajput’s death.

For Rhea, however, the experience continues to shape how she views the past.

‘We don’t want to depend on people anymore’

Looking back at the period when her family had lost professional opportunities, Rhea said the experience ultimately pushed her and Shovik towards independence.

She recalled the moment when they decided they had enough of relying on others.

“We don’t want to depend on people anymore. I want to do something of our own,” she said.

That decision eventually led to Chapter 2 and a new phase in their lives.

Years after one of the most intense media storms in the Indian entertainment industry, Rhea’s latest comments offer a glimpse into the personal and professional consequences she says her family faced away from the headlines.

For her, Chapter 2 appears to be more than just a brand name it represents an attempt to start over after a period that changed her family’s life completely.