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.
Views are personal.
With all due respect, for your kind information, Journalism is not about reading the script on the screen but also to bring forth the facts/educate the public. If not so, then how would have been the asharams bapus or Sheena Bora’s be booked and put behind bars. This is the 21 at century and India is proud to have some journalists who speak their heart out for Justice.
You have failed understanding their family’s pain. You are more biased, and this looks like toxic feminism. Since India is in COVID Crisis, we have strengthened to voice out for justice to protect on internet. And grateful for the technology, we are able to witness many truths. We fought for Nirbhaya’s justice so hard that we never gave up until the Justice served. This is the time we will not give up and justice must prevail. Our country must not fall into this trap of corruption and fraud.
It is so sad to see this so called news reporting website taking a dig at the country which is helping them make their bread and butter just to defend a woman who could be a potential murderer
Does anybody remember Pratyusha Bannerjee and who was digging there?
What a dimwit! That devil of a woman who is nothing but a gold digger who can’t even provide evidence of how she could invest extensively. I doubt you have a conscious. I pray it happens to you and you’d weep your heart for the lost of loved one.
Good that you brought out the other side of the story but that’s pathetic!!! So please stfu!!
Print is the friendly journalist Rhea contacted it is apparent now. Shame on you guys.
You theprint.in guys are pathetic.. I posted my views yesterday and it wasn’t published. Your “moderator” decided to tank it. So much for “good journalism” and freedom of speech and all that crap. Its no wonder you guys are panhandling all the time . I was thinking of subscribing because I really liked some of your articles. But now I wont bother because you guys aren’t worth it.
FAKE PAID ARTICLE! How much did Scamgress/Sena and Bollywood Mafia pay for this article? Full of BULLSHIT! Does anyone even read your shit?
Good Journalism LMAO
Should you be ashamed??? How low can you stoop! The country already lost a gem in terms of intellect, #SSR. AND HERE WE SEE BRAINLESS EDITORS N AUTHORS TAKING SIDE OF the wrongful people. Do you remember the oaths of journalism???
Disgusting, bigoted views of an illiterate author. The Print should be ashamed of itself
True
Ms. Sood,
While you try to drive your point through your diatribe, you are no different from the people who are demonizing Rhea. Unless you were born a minute ago, you should know that everyone needs someone to hate. For good to triumph, there must be evil to decimate. Don’t imagine you are above it, no one is. Don’t sit on your high horse and pass judgments on people who are judging her. Because that makes you us. And even worse, it makes you a hypocrite.
And on your writing… I have a few pointers for you..
1. Don’t confuse verbosity with eloquence.
2. “Put Paid”???? Are you writing an op-ed in The Hindu circa 1964?
3. Your last paragraph on nepotism and cliquishness.. what is the context or relevance to this article? Its out of place.
4. Lastly, it would bode you well to read and follow Orwell’s six rules of writing. You have heard of George Orwell haven’t you?
What the WHAT!? Good nerds evil to triumph? Are you actually justifying mob vigilante justice pronouncing someone WHO CAN VERY WELL BE INNOCENT guilty by media trial?
I hope sincerely that you find yourself unfairly at the receiving end of such a perception war. You deserve to UNDERSTAND why your thinking is so deeply flawed.
Oh and pointing out stupid issues in the article, really? How about fixing the gaping holes in your critical reasoning and moral fabric? Invest there instead!
How much money you have taken from Reha @theprint.in???
OMGODDD…so true on this…(for a change)
Cant believe the amount of trolls and slut shaming.. ex GF and people who have never met or worked with him taking sooo much mileage….it was some family drama where sisters dont like the GF…now shebhas become India’s enemy…she used his cards because he gave her….he was living with her….!! How everyone has become experts in mental health, handwriting analysis even post morten!!
Allegations on Rhea comes from women as well. So, there goes your misogny angle
You know how a dog begins barking, and then every other dog that hears it, follows?
There are two teams here. The BIGGER one will win!
How many can you buy for your team?
When god gives you Sood make it ‘Sonu Sood’ not ‘Samira Sood’. Have fun.
Your Shitty views and opinions.. Thank god.. Print is already dilineating from your aritcleby issuing a disclaimer : as author’s shitty personal opinions”..
I thank you; for giving this article a perfect title. as this has saved our time from going through this article… We Indians have not even read a sentence of it!!. and only giving comments..
So true ..we are not even reading it a bit also.why waste your time…
This article is only proves her Sisterly love of Samira Sood for Reah Chakraborty… If you really are a journo or what ever your claim to fame is in your mind…
you would hv never written this piece of shit… I am sure “Indians” must not have read your bullshit piece as its heading says it all about your take and your criminality. talking about the fake feminism…
What rubbish and why are you re-posting this article every hour ?? Search engine optimisation pe trust karo , don’t resort to cheap methods !!!
To a certain extent you are right. The public talking, personally I think is not toxic. What is toxic is the PSYCHIATRIST and the POLICE giving out information. For example pictures of his body. Also, what kind of psychiatrist divulges information about her client.
As for Rhea, I don’t know if she did money laundering or drugged Sushant. Though it does sound like she did. BUT WHAT KIND OF WOMAN LET’S THE MAN PAY FOR EVERYTHING. Rhea claims to be modern, she claims to be in a live-in relationship, In Modern relationships couples go splits on expenses.
She not only used his cards but even paid her brother’s expense. — Now, RHEA IS TOXIC
msSood
You should adopt brevity. See Orwell’s six rules of writing . It’ll help, or maybe not.
You have demonized the Aam Aadmi who has demonized rhea. So you’re no different. Get off your high horse and accept that people need a villian to hate. Including you!
My advice – If rhea is found guilty then you should retract this article and eat humble pie. If not, Carry on with your writing because Aam Aadmi doesn’t give a $#@!. He will find another villian in no time and give you gristle for your mills. In any case you’re a blogger at best who needs sensationalism .
See.. I made a villian of you (I rest my case)
Looks like Rhea’s PR machinery is in full swing. Why don’t you also write about multiple points of failure in the investigation and the unholy nexus between politicians, movie stars and Mumbai police?
The Print is really toxic itself boycott them
The death of Sushant Singh Rajput was truly a sad moment for the country. It brought many things in front. The Bollywood and political connections, the nepotism and reading paid news articles like these that are published to pursue people against them . Do you think it is okay for anyone to take out above Rs. 14 crore from a dead man’s account? Don’t show what they are saying. Show what they are doing. What CBI and the Supreme is saying. They all have taken Rhea as a suspect. When the other state’s police has to probe into the matter, it says a lot. She is guilty of something. And they have taken one of the most loved faced in India. We aren’t going to sit back while we see our Democracy take a toll on his death and have a field day. Your media is the fault where villians are shown innocent, despite their actions and victims are blamed beyond death. She keeps creating conspiracy and so you are saying Indians are at fault against one person. You are saying that there is only one person who is has money and powerful connections, and keeps creating conspiracies or keeps going back on her word around these things. Shame on your print. Shame on your journalism. Sushant will win. He has citizen journalism with him and he doesn’t need these paid redundant article on him.
Another pathetic article….shame on u.
Disappointing article. Justice for SSR!
Wow looks like Print has decided to be our only rightous voice of reason by attacking Sushant’s family for simply being indian, from bihar or because the father is a ‘man’? Print attacks becuase everyone is attacking Rhea so someones got to attack on her behalf. Do you see the irony, your farce and utter hypocrisy ?
Yes witch hunting and media practises are to be questioned and debated, includes your publication too. but there is a bigger issue to be tackled first, that of the unnatural death of the deceased. Dont try your hand at grabbing the stage and jump up and down with excitement at pushing your agenda. Practise some restrain and empathy As a jornalist.
I think this article is written to support rhea and the people behind her. How can you call it a simple suicide? Was there any note of suicide? What about Disha’s death? Why Sushant died within a week of her death? Why he was changing so many sims? Even before the media, people have started expressing doubts about his death. This is a people’s movement for a very talented young man who was not just an actor. He was well educated and had interest in astronomy too. So, he has a very special place in our hearts. Don’t make sweeping comments about India and Indians.
Let’s all start a movement and ban this newspaper “The Print” for spreading lies about Sushant’s family and supporting Rhea Chakraborty. Imagine what his 74 year old dad must be going through. The family got along well with Ankita Lokhande, even she was a big city girlfriend then why would they have problem with Rhea. Rhea is the main villain and let’s boycott “The Print” We support Sushant. Also Rhea is using Sushant’s money to buy newspapers like “The Print”
If your views are personal why make it public.. keep it in your head.
This case has resonated with urban middle and rich class where media propoganda of abla naari doesnt hold true. Its this class that has faced maximum abuse from laws like 498a and sadly none of the mainstreaam media showed this aspect where even men could be in abusive relationships.
One of the stupidest article, i wasted my few seconds on. Please get a life and stop generalising things. How low can you get just to attract more readers and earn few penny?
Looks like the author is expecting some handouts from Rhea …from her looted money.
Yes. She’s perfect. And she’s proving it. One diary page and WhatsApp screenshot at a time.
And going by your own words, how exactly are YOU helping address real issues like toxic workplace, mental health or unfair something? Even you’re dipping your pen in the same ink – which is the current hot topic of the mystery around SSR’s demise. You’re no journalism purist. So don’t act so.
The writer of this article and people who thinks that she is innocent must be unaware of what she actually is and what she is capable of .People are not dumb to point finger at her without reason. You should analyse two sides of a coin before writing an article.
It sucks….People writing articles showing her as victim.
Is there any button to downgrade this article? I am shocked how a massive amount of inappropriate information been used without using a tiny bit of common sense!!
Wow! You proved again why you are not one of the top prints in the country. We would also like to know how do you come up with these crap!? Why not write about it next? Definitely would get more reads 😉
Dear Author,
Two consecutive articles are published now highlighting Rhea’s ethnicity- was it required? Does it not send wrong message when people are already so emotionally fueled up. As for the actor’s vulnerability and the actress scheme, these are two adults which I am not interested in. However as part of a larger mass, I do connect with the unfair practices in workplaces, heartbreaks, infidelity, and constant judgements that had upset him – check his interviews ( ps before he died I watched just one of his film). This is an unbiased view. His intellectual capacity would not have deterred him to declare as depressed or bipolar as many identify in today’s society. He was honest, well intentioned and beyond the pretences. So yes I disagree with the content being a Bengali woman myself. I would say the events are unnatural and needs proper inspection before a hurried judgment of “suicide” and Rhea as being the closest person would have many details considering his FD was broken for her (such trust can mean either extreme loyalty or can be considered as a scheme). And Mumbai is an expensive city.
And let’s say it was a suicide then also -Any action is preceded by some reasons, valid ones – what are those ?
Personal views.
By saying Rumored partner,in the introduction.It is safe to say I havent wasted my time reading it.Since,Rhea has accepted she is the partner.So sad to see you guys are propagating fake news.
Or you guys are soo small ,you are creating click baiting articles.
It’s time sushants family makes print accountable for his murder Along with rhea and her accomplices. Prints vulgar articles are a byproduct of the rot emanating from the lawlessness of mumbai police and the nexus behind. May each of your family member go thru the same ordeal.
Please read the article heading yourself before publishing it. There is supposed to be an editorial team, are they dead or were they on leave? What kind of journalism is this, in the name of free speech. Of course I’m not saying rhea is guilty, it’s just series of events and people are connected in this case and nobody is giving a damn except 24×7 media or public (in ur word, Indians). U can always say not to persume rhea guilty until it’s proven but this article is exactly doing the opposite. If u don’t wanna take sides, You could always be neutral. What u did here is really not acceptable. Also, why are u dragging Indians and india into this. Do u have any idea if Indians or 24×7 media’s hadn’t been this dedicated to fight for Sushant, by this time mumbai police would close this case saying it was a suicide. Please do proper investigation before Posting such articles. It’s easy for u to say ur opinion outloud just because u didn’t have a proper story to post. You can always post ur opinion on your social media timeline, Don’t waste people’s time. I don’t know how many supporter u have lost, but I’m one of them.
Pseudo Feminism and Paid journalism at its best. People like you will start to make rubbish and non sensical stories about SSR, but people aren’t dumb headed and they know one thing’s for sure, how intelligent and noble a soul he was, no matter how much you deny him of justice, he will be the celebrated hero.
Stop protecting women commiting crime, Don’t destroy feminism you guys.
Horrendous article.
So proud of the people at print. You’re a voice for the voiceless. I have had similar experience in personal life. Patriarchy harms everyone, not just females. Living up to the expectations of a family who doesn’t really know who you are can be excruciatingly painful. In this case the family has rallied such toxicity using media to air dirty laundry & push their personal opinion through politics and connections & public outcry. You put your child on a pedestal so he can do no wrong, he cannot fumble or struggle. He’s a God! No child will come to you with their struggles. The middle-aged son (i mean his flatmates number was with his family!!!) had effectively cut their interfering ways off and so they’ve hijacked the narrative to blame someone.
Without any valid proof whatsoever. My 35 year old husband who’s in the army, his family tried to do the same thing. He has issues like everyone, he’s a metalhead, he drinks, smokes he’s so much more than what they think they know about him & has done a bunch of wild things in his life. Do his parents know who he is??? NO. Over the years he’s distanced himself from them without ever telling them how destructive their parenting had been to him. He’s poured all his shared & all his poison with me and I’ve tried to cope & share it with him. Thankfully he saw what was happening
Hope he doesn’t end up flaccid and hope you won’t leave him suspiciously just a few days before he turns up that way with 3 properties worth 20-30 crores in your father’s name. Will you not agree in that case the whole narrative changes..its not simply a case of living a wild life away from family’s interference. Look where it lead him. If the company was good he would have been alive and thriving instead he was seen with dark circles sleeping whole day. All his staff suspiciously changed by Rhea, his residence changes, his numbers changed. His expenditures increasing multiple fold. His partner partying while he is kept inebriated in a room. I hope you are not the same kind of partner if you are so boasting of being able to relate to Rhea so much.
This article is such a disgrace!! The writer and the media house should get their hands on some real journalism and not put up these low taste pieces that almost favour the primary accused.
SHAME ON THE PRINT!!!!
They just want justice. If she indeed stole from him/ mooched off him, let her be punished!
Growing India needs improvised journalism not the puppets of creating chaos?
Growing India needs improvised journalism not the puppets of creating chaos?
THIS PUBLISHER AND AUTHOR HAVE NO HUMANITY, THEY SHOULD BE BANNED AND CASE SHOULD BE FILED ASAINGT THEM, SHAME ON U AUTHOR SHAME ON U WITHOUT ANY EVIDENCE U R FAVOURING REAH CHAKROBOTY .
And without evidence you are accusing rhea chakbrvarty. Shame on you
Oh, now I understood what justice is. It is ignoring all the contradictions, evidences and blindly rely on a woman who has not answered any question, Who asks for CBI and then oppose CBI.
Please enlighten when will be the public justified in calling out a woman, I mean what evidences, facts etc. should come out when the current public outrage will be justified in your eyes as well as the author’s.
oh come one. Only when it is proved , the evidences that you are talking about are by trp hungry media. nothing is proved yet
Well done print. The level of toxicoty amonf Indians levelled by the media is too high. The very fact that you have published something which is against the mass opinion tells that you care about privacy and real justice more than the comedy journalism playee by the other media houses