MS Dhoni (2016) actor Sushant Singh Rajput ends his life, shocks film industry and country

Actor Sushant Singh Rajput, star of the biopic MS Dhoni: The Untold Story (2016), died by suicide today at his residence in Bandra, Mumbai. He was 34.

Rajput was found hanging at his residence. The body has been sent for post-mortem.

Sushant Singh Rajput started his acting career with the Hindi television serial Kis Desh Mein Hai Meraa Dil (2008). Though he made a mark with the serial, his popularity soared with his next, Pavitra Rishta (2009). His character Manav found instant appreciation from viewers, especially the target audience in Maharashtra.

The actor then made his Hindi film debut with the acclaimed Kai Po Che! (2013). He was also appreciated in movies like Shuddh Desi Romance (2013) and Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! (2015).

But the role that brought him countrywide fame was MS Dhoni: The Untold Story (2016), biopic of the then Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Rajput was last seen on the big screen in Nitesh Tiwari’s Chhichhore (2019), which, incidentally, dealt with the subject of suicide. The film was critically appreciated and also became a box-office hit.

Rajput's last released film was Tarun Mansukhani's long-delayed Drive (2020), which was released directly on Netflix.

Just last week, Rajput’s former manager, Disha Salian, died by suicide in Mumbai. Salian ended her life by jumping off a high-rise building on the night of 8 June.