'Slandered' Rhea questions Sushant's family; mentions mother's 'illness,' his drug-addiction

On June 14, Sushant, all about 34 years of age, was found dead at his Mumbai home, sparking shock across India and birthing theories about the "ostracizing" behavior in Bollywood. After enormous public pressure, Mumbai Police launched a probe into his death, summoning well-known directors and producers.

Weeks later, Sushant's family filed an FIR against Rhea, blaming her for their son's demise.

The serious allegations against Rhea, pertaining to fraud, cheating, and abetment to suicide, led to another campaign that ended with the Supreme Court handing over the case's reins to CBI last week.

Meanwhile, Rhea, who lived with Sushant, received hate on social media, from news anchors, and decided to address the attacks through the same medium.

Her interviews, however, garnered little support for her.

In her first interaction, Rhea chose to speak to India Today's Rajdeep Sardesai, where she said the slander against her prompted suicidal thoughts. She said a witch-hunt has been launched, and she wasn't allowed time to grieve after losing the man she loved.

However, shockingly, in a bid to clear her name, Rhea mentioned about Sushant's "drug habits" and familial ties.

Rhea spoke about Sushant's drug addiction while, ironically, accepting that he could no longer defend himself.

"Yes, he smoked up marijuana. He used to do it before he met me. Even during the time of Kedarnath, he used to smoke up," she said, adding that she tried to "stop him" but to no avail.

"If he wanted to smoke up, he would," Rhea asserted.

Rhea claimed that Sushant didn't share cordial relations with his father, Mr. KK Singh. "Before I met him, Sushant hadn't spoken to his father for 5 years. His relations with his father were always strained," she said.

However, Singh has repeatedly claimed Rhea didn't allow Sushant to talk to him and also released WhatsApp messages to show he wanted to know about his son's well-being.

Not stopping at Sushant's mental illness, Rhea also commented on his deceased mother's.

She claimed Singh left Sushant's mother, Usha Singh, and that had a deep impact on a young Sushant.

She also said his mother suffered from "something similar," and that one of the biggest reasons for him to be "slipping into depression" was the fact that his mother was abandoned.

After leaving Sushant's home on June 8, Rhea said, she had no idea what happened to him, adding that she also wished to know if he ended his life or was killed.

"His sister was with him between June 8 and June 13, why won't she come forward and say what exactly happened?" she asked, reminding that she demanded a CBI probe initially.

Rhea also said that she left Sushant's home on June 8 after he insisted. She blamed his sister, Meetu, who lived in Goregaon for leaving the actor, despite knowing he wasn't keeping well.

"Things were not well between him and his family. I wanted him to get back together with his family, but every time they came together, they would separate again," she claimed.

Rhea also denied claims that her family was unaware of Sushant's mental illness; said they never liked her much, and also stated that she would aid in CBI investigation.

"I am just an innocent girl who loved an innocent boy," Rhea said, adding that she is ready to fight for herself.

"Justice for Rhea is as important as Justice for Sushant," she said.

While it's understandable Rhea gave the interview, it's hard to ignore the ill things she commented on Sushant — from his drug addiction to mental illness, and familial ties — when he can no longer clarify for himself.

Meanwhile, Sardesai allowed her to indulge in character assassination.

The interview must have been watched by millions but the "known journalist" took TV news discourse to another low to win the TRP race. Unfortunately, this is not the first time TV anchors did so and it won't be the last.