Abhishek Kapoor Claims Sushant Singh Rajput Was “Disturbed” During ‘Kedarnath’ Shoot, Says He Was “Isolated And Helpless”
Abhishek Kapoor recalled working with Sushant Singh Rajput during the 2018 Bollywood movie ‘Kedarnath’, co-starring Sara Ali Khan.
Late Indian actor Sushant Singh Rajput, who was known for his remarkable performances in both television and film, initially pursued a career in engineering before discovering his passion for acting. He became a household name after starring in the hit television show ‘Pavitra Rishta’, co-starring Ankita Lokhande. In 2013, Sushant Singh Rajput made his Bollywood debut with the film ‘Kai Po Che’. He later went on to deliver several memorable movies like ‘Shuddh Desi Romance’, ‘Detective Byomkesh Bakshy’, ‘MS Dhoni: The Untold Story’, ‘Kedarnath’, and ‘Chhichhore’.
However, after a short-lived career in Bollywood, Sushant Singh Rajput passed away on June 14, 2020, at the age of 34.
Recently, filmmaker Abhishek Kapoor, who collaborated with SSR in films like ‘Kedarnath’ and ‘Kai Po Che’, opened up about working with him during ‘Kedarnath’. The 2018 Hindi movie marked the Bollywood debut of Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh’s daughter Sara Ali Khan.
In an interview with Siddharth Kannan, Abhishek Kapoor revealed that Sushant Singh Rajput was “disturbed” during the filming of ‘Kedarnath’.
Abhishek Kapoor said, “He was a bit disturbed in those days. He was a very strong guy mentally and physically he could take on anything. He was a great guy. I think he was finding himself to be very isolated and quite helpless. He was drifting away.”
According to the filmmaker, the reactions and the aftermath of SSR’s death was required. He said, “It just needed to be addressed and I’m glad it got addressed. Just the prevailing scenario and the unabashed manipulation that was going on in the industry through so many forces.”
Abhishek Kapoor also talked about Sushant Singh Rajput’s dedication during ‘Kai Po Che’. He said, “I remember Sushant being very overweight when we auditioned him and my condition to him was that, I showed him a picture of an American actor and I said, ‘You got to look like this because you’re a cricketer.’ He wouldn’t say much. He was not a man of too many words. But in 3 months, he worked so hard and he would be there at six in the morning for cricket practice, the gym training and by the end of it, he looked like it.”
The Indian filmmaker also said that he had a connection with Sushant Singh Rajput and wanted to cast him in ‘Fitoor’ as well. However, the film did not take off with SSR and he was later cast in ‘Kedarnath’ instead.
Abhishek Kapoor recalled how cold it was during Sara Ali Khan and Sushant Singh Rajput’s first schedule together for ‘Kedarnath’.
“Sushant led the way. He did it first and the next day Sara saw him doing it and she also realized that okay if this guy is doing it, I will also do. That’s what drove her to do it,” he said.
Sushant Singh Rajput, who reportedly died by suicide in 2020, continues to hold a special place in the hearts of millions of his fans.
The actor was last seen in ‘Dil Bechara’ opposite Sanjana Sanghi. The movie released on Disney+ Hotstar after his death.
