For years, Rhea Chakraborty’s name dominated headlines for reasons she never chose. Following the tragic death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput in June 2020, Rhea found herself at the centre of relentless public scrutiny and prolonged legal battles. The intense spotlight pushed her away from the screen and forced her to confront the possibility that her acting career might never recover.
Now, nearly seven years later, Rhea is preparing for a return to acting with filmmaker Hansal Mehta’s upcoming series. In a candid conversation with Hindustan Times, she reflected on the emotional journey that brought her back — and the love she refused to give up on.
Rhea revealed that letting go of her long-held dream of acting was one of the most difficult phases of her life. “Letting go of this dream of acting, which I had worked towards for over a decade, took many sessions of therapy. I had to stop thinking about it because I couldn’t have it; I didn’t get acting opportunities,” she shared. The actress admitted that she initially declined the offer for the series, convinced she had left acting behind.
However, Hansal Mehta and the writer encouraged her to reconsider. “They asked me what was stopping me. I told them I had left acting and they said that’s all the more reason I should do it,” she recalled. Their reassurance helped her take the leap. “Now I’m glad I said yes. It was different coming on set — such a long life has been lived in the last seven years. It’s like cycling, something you never forget.”
Beyond her professional struggles, Rhea became emotional speaking about the women who stood by her during her darkest days. She credited her close friends, particularly singer-actor Shibani Dandekar, for unwavering support. Calling Shibani “like a sister,” Rhea revealed that her friend even lost brand endorsements for publicly supporting her — something Rhea only discovered later.
“On one hand I saw the worst side of humans, but on the other side I experienced the most beautiful side of humanity,” she said.
Despite the pain of the past, Rhea insists she has not become jaded. “Therapy saved my life… I swore no matter where life takes me I will never be jaded. I still believe in love — it’s beautiful, powerful, and love is the answer.”
