From the streets of Patna to the heart of Bollywood, Sushant Singh Rajput made his name with films like Kai Po Che!, Chhichhore, Kedarnath, Raabta, Dil Bechara, and the unforgettable M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story. Even his brief appearance in PK left a mark. That is why June 14, 2020, remains engraved in public memory, when the actor was found dead in his Mumbai apartment.
Six years have now passed since his death, yet the memories refuse to fade. Fans continue to revisit his films, celebrate his achievements, and share tributes across social media. This year was no different. On his death anniversary, friends, admirers, and former colleagues posted videos and messages recalling moments spent with the actor.
Ankita Lokhande remembers the man she once loved
Among the many people whose lives intersected with Rajput’s, few shared a journey as long or as personal as Ankita Lokhande. The two met on the sets of the television show Pavitra Rishta in 2010 and soon entered a relationship that lasted nearly six to seven years. Though they parted ways in 2016, their story remained one of the most discussed relationships in television and film circles.
When Rajput died in 2020, Lokhande remained a constant support for his family, standing beside them through one of the most difficult periods of their lives.
On Rajput’s death anniversary this year, Lokhande shared an animated video with the song “Saathiya Tune Kya Kiya” from the film “Love,” sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and K. S. Chithra.
While she didn’t mention Rajput by name, the music showed what it meant. The song served almost like a recurring backdrop in Pavitra Rishta, the show where their relationship first began.
Her memories of Rajput have surfaced repeatedly over the years.
During her appearance on Bigg Boss 17, which aired between October 2023 and January 2024, Lokhande frequently spoke about him. She shared stories from their years together, defended her decision to speak about his talents, and revisited the circumstances that led to their separation.
Time and again, she highlighted his academic achievements, recalling how he solved mathematical problems with ease and secured a remarkable rank in the AIEEE (Rank 7).
The conversations often left her emotional. At several moments during the show, Lokhande reflected on the shock she experienced after Rajput’s death. She revealed that seeing images from that period deeply affected her, leaving her numb and struggling to process the reality of what had happened.
“He wanted to live every moment,” says Rumi Jaffery about Sushant Singh Rajput
Among those who remembered Rajput was writer-director Rumi Jaffery, who shared both a professional and personal bond with the late actor.
What began as a working relationship gradually evolved into friendship as the two spent time together at family gatherings and social events.
At one point, Jaffery and Rajput were preparing for a romantic film that was set to feature Rajput alongside Rhea Chakraborty. The project had entered the final stages of pre-production, with filming scheduled to begin in London in May 2020. However, the COVID-19 pandemic brought those plans to a halt, and Rajput’s death ensured that the film would never see the light of day.
Looking back on those years, Jaffery recalled how Rajput frequently spent evenings at his home with Chakraborty. Over time, the actor became more than just a colleague. “He was family,” Jaffery suggested while reflecting on the bond they shared.
Remembering those evenings, he said, “We would discuss endless movies that we wanted to make together. Kahaan gayi woh shaamein (where have those evenings gone)?”
The filmmaker revealed that hardly a day passes without thoughts of his friend crossing his mind. “I still continue to read his messages on my phone. Usska number delete karne ka mann nahin karta. I still feel he’s alive. His enthusiasm, his excitement about life was infectious. He wanted to do so many things. He wanted to act, direct films, write, and do organic farming. He wanted to live every moment of his life.”
Jaffery said that the actor wanted to immerse himself in astronomy. He had recently learned to play the guitar and constantly searched for new skills and new experiences. Acting, according to those who knew him, was only one piece of a much larger puzzle he wanted to solve.
Jaffery also spoke about the period leading up to Rajput’s death. While he acknowledged that the actor was not quite himself during the months before June 2020, he admitted that the news still came as a shock.
Besides that, he said, the accusations and counter-accusations, the court battles, the public hostility, and the scrutiny directed toward Rhea Chakraborty created a big storm that hurt a lot of people who knew SSR.
Jaffery also claimed that several people who had barely occupied a place in Rajput’s life suddenly stepped forward after his death, positioning themselves as close associates and using the tragedy as a springboard into public attention.
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