Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput found dead in Mumbai home

Mumbai, June 14 Popular Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead inside his Mumbai home on Sunday, with local media, quoting police, saying the 34-year-old actor committed suicide.

Initial reports citing police said the actor, who starred in films such as Kai Po Che, PK and MS Dhoni: The Untold Story, was found hanging in his apartment in suburban Bandra. Mumbai police spokesperson Pranaya Ashok confirmed the death and said details were being investigated.

Rajput, who started as a TV actor, made his Bollywood debut in 2013 with director Abhishek Kapoor in Kai Po Che (I have cut), based on a novel by Chetan Bhagat.

Social media was flooded with condolences for the actor, with many reacting to the news with disbelief.

“Sushant Singh Rajput … a bright young actor gone too soon,” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted. “He excelled on TV and in films. His rise in the world of entertainment inspired many and he leaves behind several memorable performances. Shocked by his passing away. My thoughts are with his family and fans. Om Shanti.”

Bollywood star Akshay Kumar wrote on Twitter, “Honestly this news has left me shocked and speechless.”

“I can’t believe this at all … it’s shocking … a beautiful actor and a good friend … it’s disheartening,” actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui tweeted.

Rajput played former Indian cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni in the 2016 film MS Dhoni: The Untold Story. Among his other movies are Kedarnath, Sonchiriya (Golden Bird) and Raabta (Connection).

He was last seen in the 2019 Netflix film, Drive.

Earlier, Manoj Sharma, Additional Commissioner of Police, Western Region, told local PTI news agency that the actor “committed suicide at his residence in Bandra”. No suicide note was found, media reports said.

Mumbai, India’s financial hub and home to Bollywood, has been grappling with the coronavirus pandemic, which has brought the business of entertainment to a complete halt in the country.

Rajput hailed from Patna, Bihar, and had enrolled at a New Delhi University to study engineering, before dropping out to pursue a career in acting, according to local media outlet NDTV.