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HomeOpinionNewsmaker of the WeekIndians find the perfect villain in Rhea Chakraborty. It says more about...

Indians find the perfect villain in Rhea Chakraborty. It says more about India than her

Since the FIR against Chakraborty, it is as if the entire country has collectively turned into a giant investigating agency-cum-court.

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Take a quick look at what has occupied prime time news on TV and the headlines this past fortnight, and one name stands out: Rhea Chakraborty. Ever since late actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s family lodged an FIR against his rumoured partner on 25 July, accusing her of abetting his suicide, Chakraborty’s every move has made headlines.

We know how many times she spoke to Rajput and his personal staff on the phone; we know every emoji she used in her posts about Rajput on Instagram; we have decided we know what her choice of lawyer says about her; we will soon know what she ate for breakfast and, based on our extensive WhatsApp information, will have an analysis ready as to whether that is food an innocent person would eat.

This one woman has, perhaps unwittingly, stripped much of India of its last vestige of common sense as we descend into brainless, misogynistic chatter about kaala jaadu and tez Bengali girls who ruin men. So, for showing up India for what it really is, Rhea Chakraborty is ThePrint’s Newsmaker of the Week.


Also read: Centre seeks to be part of Rhea Chakraborty’s plea, moves Supreme Court


Everybody is an expert

Less than two months ago, when news broke of Rajput’s death by suicide, Indians overnight turned into mental health experts. A few days later, when people started talking about how he had been a victim of Bollywood’s nepotism and how his career had suffered due to the film industry’s cliquish nature, we became experts on the inner workings of an industry that most of us have no access to. But all of this pales in comparison to what is happening now.

In Rhea Chakraborty, India has found the perfect villain to focus all its energies on, so that real issues of mental health, toxic workplaces and unfair systems can, once again, be ignored until the next incident and the next villain comes along to occupy the nation’s mindspace.

Since the FIR against Chakraborty, it is as if the entire country has collectively turned into a giant investigating agency-cum-court, with, of course, a strong dose of regionalism and sexism thrown in for good measure.

Despite so much going on in the country – a growing Covid crisis, floods in Assam and Bihar and, now, Mumbai, the India-China standoff and the continued incarceration of student activists, to name a few – the national obsession with Rhea Chakraborty has put paid to any real conversation about anything else.


Also read: CBI takes over Sushant Singh Rajput’s death case, re-registers FIR against Rhea Chakraborty


The suicide that has set off a political tug-of-war

Rajput’s father, in his FIR, has accused the actor and VJ of financially cheating his son, mentally harassing him and driving him to suicide. While the case was initially being handled by the Mumbai Police, now it has become a tug-of-war between them and the Patna Police, who pushed for a CBI probe, alleging that Mumbai’s cops were working to shield someone influential. The case has become a political tussle now, with leaders from every political party weighing in on the investigation and even the Centre getting involved, while the Enforcement Directorate (ED) questioned Chakraborty Friday over allegations of money laundering.

After Sushant Singh Rajput died, Chakraborty maintained silence on social media for an entire month, before breaking it not only to express what Sushant meant to her, but also to slam trolls who threatened her with rape, and called her a gold-digger and murderer. She herself then took to social media to request Home Minister Amit Shah for a CBI probe into Rajput’s death, an investigation that her lawyer now says is against the idea of federalism.


Also read: Aatma, autopsy, jadu—After Ayodhya, TV news went right back to magnificent Sushant obsession


Public trial and the problem of 24-hour news

But even before the CBI and ED, plus two police forces working overtime to prove they are working, have finished their job, Rhea has been pronounced guilty, not just by the public, but also by a completely irresponsible media that has not only used deeply tasteless (and senseless) language about clinical depression but also gone hammer and tongs at documenting Chakraborty’s every action.

It just goes to show the problem with 24-hour news, which is that journalists need something to fill up the hours with, and they don’t care even if it means writing crass headlines like ‘The Noose Tightens’ or conducting dummy post-mortems.

And in all the noise about this one high-profile case, we have forgotten not only basic decency but also the fact that there are many people, across professions, who don’t get work at all, leave alone work of their choice, whose careers suffer due to nepotism and cliquishness. And none of them will get the kind of intense public and media scrutiny that Sushant Singh Rajput’s case has got. They won’t get a CBI probe and the police departments of two cities working to ensure they get justice, even if posthumous. They will simply fall by the wayside.

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236 COMMENTS

  1. Sameera Sood you have nothing to say about how and why Rajdeep Sardesai interviewed Rhea in the middle of the pandemic. A so called interview where she lies through her teeth. Contradicts herself, talks without a semblance of honesty or logic. I too believe in the principle of innocent till proven guilty . But you say nothing about this interview about this journalist and a person lying . And the lies she said were despicable and mean.
    Though not for once I would say she murdered him . But pity you can’t be fair or logical . You call yourself a journalist

  2. I Literally fill very sad to hear the dead of the sushant singh Rajput’ s I think salman khan and his girlfriend did very bad with him may ‘” god give the strength his family to bear the pain … He is very good actor belonging in middle class he can straggle and achieve and a lot in small age………………….. ….

  3. That’s what everyone is saying dear reporter or whatever media person you are just say let’s find out whether it was suicide or homocide or murder , right …. everybody understands your simple English very few people are saying rhea murdered him but most of them are angry because the police didn’t question anybody and the facts before declaring his death as suicide and Miss Rhea herself declared owing that he was his ex boyfriend because according to her public comments she mentioned she left his house and broke up with him before his death ……..but still she being his ex- girlfriend she knew him enough and she says this with so confidence that he was a suffering medically and did suicide because of hallucinations and mental disorder ….. She kind of being a family to shushant can’t shutup her mouth for a while didn’t even mourn for him ….. She might be innocent there are chances to this theory as well but still, ‘ would you ever ever leave a person alone who is suffering like a hell in there ,when you know he is suffering and he can do anything …. if you are feeeling comfortable being with that person you can inform his parents and close family members to at least come and handle him …. and hope miss rhea is not a dumb ass anybody could have a trouble and it would take time to travel in time of Covid ….especially in India when it’s complete lockdown …. Whoever you are just on ‘humanity’ basis …. Think Think Think , Would you leave your bf, friend, husband ,wife, or children if they are suffering…. Miss Rhea might be innocent but all these people are angry about is that they have lost a person who came up from humble beginnings and with hard work ,,,, he earned that respect and honor ,,…. he didn’t just got it….. it really takes a lot to be there just hanging there ….. …………His people ,fans , and family just need a CBI enquirers with utmost sincerity and hard work ….. ……. And so in the same way people are declaring rhea a murderer you stop calling her innnocent …..please correct your language of your so called journalism and say lets wait for the judgement….rather being you a judge ….. and you guys stop calling India and it’s people shameful ….. go and help people in the country who suffering and fighting with the systems for fair trials …… people are furious because In India people like salmon khan who kill people who have no homes are treated like god and people who rape , drug th innocent youth to death and awful life live freely and you can’t ( you media personals) can even question these sick men and women ,,, asking a question is not a crime right ,,,,,,,,,… anyways like you said these are my personal opinion……. #satyamevjayate let the truth prevail …..let there be some light ….. the most important whether Shushant died of suicide /homicide or murder he should be in peace …. we alll loved to watch him on the SCREEN and we can’t know what he was as a person good or bad but nobody in the whole Bollywood industry can portray the character of Mr. MS Dhoni like Shushant did… I say it nobody….and we all miss him and we loved to see him ..instead of Varuna dhawan or ranveer Singh or Arjun kapoor……I really loved Kia pho Che all the three stars ……

    • First, it’s indian media because few years back, they asked for freedom of speech. It’s not showing India. Currently so many people are struggling on their own while you journalists are ready to sell your own soul for a shit piece of bloody news.
      Second, the print always manipulates news. All of your media people are giving us so called news and recommend us to read in almost every platform like Google, YouTube etc etc. Then you media people are blaming us for having a take on the news

      GET A LIFE ALL MEDIA AND THE PRINT. I BARELY DOUBT YOU PEOPLE ARE SENSIBLE AT ALL

  4. Finally an article that is worth reading. Media has gone insane with prime news channels having nothing to telecast except baseless claims and facts. The !matter is over hyped. What purpose does knowing and criticising her monthly beauty parlour expenses, shopping list, etc serve? There are tonnes of actors and actresses who spend much more than a million on grooming. Why have so many controversies suddenly erupted out of nowhere after an FIR was filed against her. There is no denying that the death is questionable but how and why are you forced to think along the same lines as the complainant. Had an FIR not been filed, would you people even utter rhea’s name? How easily can you people circulate her personal chats on media and allege a relationship between her and mahesh bhatt. Come on girls, don’t you text this way to a very dear close friend, cousin or uncle? People are presenting anything and everything to prtove their point. Wher were you people when the culprits of arushi talvar murder case walked free? It is a huge dent on India. Very disappointing how several other important matters and issues are being sidelined and everyone is so obsessed with someone’s lifestyle, character, etc. The culprit could be anybody..

    • And how much crore you got from SSR’s family + Republic TV + Zee +…+ Bihar police + Bihar Govt + Bollywood lobbies + Subramaniam Swami + more than 15-20 crore Indians to believe & to spread he was killed, drugged, fooled, and especially, not to understand basic article written in English that is innocently favoring dignity of a person not convicted yet.. !

      • Agreed Media is going over board , but the promoters on The Print were the one who targeted Narendra modi in 2002 even those were media trails these so called left leaning Journalists were continuously targeting Modi made him a Villian worldwide and finally he was proven Innocent .So don’t get excited Print running their own propaganda nobody is saying here

        • So if u ask Modi, u against India. Dear, there is no left or right leaning about truth. I am from Ahmedabad & who knows better what happened in 2002. I was supporter of BJP till 2016, now it’s U-turn. Persons we demolished Babri masjid can convert into Muslims. Ideological changes happens based on current events & knowledge. Any sane person, can assert indeed political support. So if u think that Mr Modi shouldn’t under radar at the time, This is nowhere in the world. It’s ur leaning towards him!
          Now this is 2020! Time to grow up! And article talks about personal liberty & appealing to be civilized & matured about current stigma towards a woman. This media trails are worse than Khap Panchayats & can tarnish image of country. What’s political motivation or fund raising u see from this article? Even most comments are negative (As expected!)!

  5. So Print is hired as friendly media by Rhea Chakraborty’s PR team..!! That is why I was wondering that all of a sudden along with Sanjay Raut and ShivSena how Print started attacking Sushant’s family.. Now I know .. Print u got the full payment or there’s still venom to spit. !!
    So Sushant was dipressed, bipolar hmmm people of North India are womanizer.. sala I still thinking ki how low u can stooge down to..!! Just for few pennies..!! Shame on u.. A young meritorious, academic talented young boy died.. someone has killed him.. there’s been murder in name of sucide in all over Mumbai and u so called journalist attack the victim to break them morally assassin there character..!! Feeling pity and disgusting on ur journalism Print..!!

    • Nobody really knows what happened…. neither you do… print media. This article is so dumb… but common sense says ssr did not commit suicide… we cant digest that…. if it was indeed a suicide why are there cover ups? What is the need ? What are they hiding. How can police botch up such a high profile case? Dont these questions mean anything to you? Before writing such dumb articles think and do…. dont give feminism angle to it… obviously it will be the person closest who will be questioned…in case of these type of mysteries deaths…. quite common isn’t? . doesn’t matter man or woman…. dont judge people of our country…. saying what shit you are saying. Introspection required here. If rhea is not guilty…. then as you say … believe in the course of law…. dont you have the faith? But let proper inquiry happen…. sounds fair right?

  6. Well now think: on one side she says she was taking Sushant to a therapist, he was in depression, she was trying to take care of him, so she knew whatever he was going through. On the other hand she requests an enquiry to find out what prompted him to take this step! Can you decode this? Either ways she is trying to direct this towards a suicide case. But he is contradicting herself. There is clearly something fishy here.

  7. Do u know rhea said she wants cbi but then appealed against it 24 hours prior to it?? U arent very good at journalism and somwhow want to bring sexism into this. Sushant died because of watever reason but demanding justice for him does not mean that people dont value other’s.

  8. A lop sided article which clearly shows your bias towards Rhea . As a journalist you should have your pulse on reality and by mocking the intelligence of the citizens of the country who are standing together asking for justice for SSR you are simply belittling your own pathetic self .
    Will no longer read articles from the Print as it is evident that these are paid articles .

  9. A very cleverly written by a feminazi trying to deviate from the real issue that a person was killed by a groupism within the film industry. Where were you when India was blaming Suraj pancholi for murdering Jua Khan? You were nowhere to be found than. It’s burns your ass cause what has happened after SSR ‘s killing is a mass revolution. People coming out against gangs, nepotism, Bollywood and against your Aka’s who keep your back accounts in balance. I pity your in-laws and even your husband. God give them strength to carry on.

    • how is it that sushant die due to groupism if she was killed by rhea according to you. is rhea a daughter of any actor, or a product of your so called groupism. she has acted in not more than 10 movies and its not even that she became a star. just because some people made money due to acting or in a glitzy field doesnt make you inferior to have a grudge on them. come out of this nonsensical mentality and acknowledge that this problem of nepotism is in all fields. this message is not just for you but all the guys who have become the ultimate judges watching what the tv media serves you

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