“Sushant was going the Parveen Babi way” says Mukesh Bhatt

Ever since the untimely demise of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput, many A-list celebrities came forth to talk on mental health and how much one must be taken care of.

Producer Mukesh Bhatt opened up about how he felt Sushant was going the “Parveen Babi way”. Legendary late actress Parveen Babi was Mahesh Bhatt’s former partner who experienced similar trauma. She suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and it was Mahesh Bhatt who stood by her like a rock.

Mukesh Bhatt, speaking with news channel Times Now, remembers how Sushant was distant and that there was “something amiss” about him when the duo met during the casting of film Sadak 2.

Mukesh stated, “To be honest with you, I saw it coming.”

“I had met Rajput on a number of occasions. The first time I met him was in 2012 when he had come to our office to meet me for Ashiqui 2.”

He also added that although the actor sought help, he was still undergoing mental hurdles.

“While the world is shocked about this tragic incident, I am not shocked because I saw it coming. But I am very depressed and very hurt because he was such a bright, talented young boy.”

Suhrita Sengupta, associate of director Mahesh Bhatt, who met Sushant Singh Rajput also let out a sad statement, “Sushant had come to meet Bhatt Saab for a possible role in Sadak 2. They hit it off instantly, Sushant was a talker. He held forth on every topic under the sun. Sushant could speak on Quantum physics as well as cinema.”

She also spoke on how Mahesh Bhatt saw the same tragic turn of events in actress Parveen Babi.

“He had seen it in Parveen Babi and he knew there was nothing that would be done except medication. Rhea who stuck on in spite of  Sushant’s rapid descent into depression tried her best to ensure that Sushant would take his medication. But he refused.”

Suhrita then said that Sushant’s then girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty quit their relationship after trying severely to help the disturbed actor.

“During the last one year, he had cut himself completely from all outside contact. Rhea was with him until she could take it no longer. There came a time when Sushant began hearing voices. He began to feel people were trying to kill him. One day an Anurag Kashyap film was playing in Sushant’s home and he told Rhea, ‘I  said no to an offer from Kashyap. Now he’s going to come to kill me.’ That’s when  Rhea was too frightened to stay with  Sushant any longer.”

“She had no choice. Bhatt Saab told her there was nothing she could do. If she stayed on she would lose her sanity too. Rhea waited for Sushant’s sister to come to Mumbai and take charge. Sushant’s sisters tried their best to support and comfort him. But he was beyond listening to anyone. He wouldn’t take his medication.” 

Mahesh Bhatt tweeted a heartfelt message on the passing of Sushant.

Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone who has been extremely vocal about her own personal struggles with depression took to Instagram and asked her viewers to seek help if they are/have been experiencing such mental health issues.