Remembering Sushant Singh Rajput (SSR): A Journey of Talent, Dreams, and Legacy

Sushant Singh Rajput (SSR) was born on January 21, 1986, in Patna, Bihar. His impressive rise from a small-town boy to a Bollywood sensation captivated hearts and inspired millions. The late actor displayed a passion for the performing arts from a young age. After completing his engineering studies, he pursued his dreams of acting, joining the theatre, and participating in dance reality shows.

His remarkable talent soon caught the eye of casting directors, leading him to the world of television. In this article, let's relive the life and legacy of Sushant Singh Rajput, reflecting on his achievements, dreams, and the impact he continues to have on fans and aspiring artists worldwide.

Bollywood Journey of SSR and Iconic Roles

Sushant's transition from television to the silver screen began a promising film career. In 2013, he made his cinematic debut with Kai Po Che! Subsequent roles in Shuddh Desi Romance, PK, and Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! further showcased his versatility and acting competence. However, his portrayal of Mahendra Singh Dhoni in the biographical sports drama M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story cemented his position as a rising star. Sushant's dedication to accurately capturing Dhoni's mannerisms and personality earned him widespread acclaim, leading to his breakthrough in Bollywood.

Sushant Singh Rajput Movies

Here is the list of all the movies SSR is featured in. Let's have a look at how they fared at the box office.

Kai Po Che

• Star Cast: Sushant Singh Rajput, Amit Sadh, Rajkummar Rao, Amrita Puri
• Director: Abhishek Kapoor

Kai Po Che, a buddy sports drama film released in 2013, was brought to life through the collaboration of Ronnie Screwvala and Siddharth Roy Kapur, who produced the movie under UTV Motion Pictures. Drawing inspiration from Chetan Bhagat's 2008 novel, The 3 Mistakes of My Life, the film introduced Sushant Singh Rajput to Bollywood. The film's global premiere occurred at the 63rd Berlin International Film Festival on February 13, 2013. Notably, this screening was groundbreaking, making Kai Po Che the first Indian film to feature in the esteemed World Panorama section. With a budget of Rs. 30 crores, Kai Po Che garnered praise from Indian critics while receiving a mix of reviews on the international stage. The film earned Rs. 83 crores worldwide and became a critical and commercial triumph.

Suddh Desi Romance

• Star Cast: Sushant Singh Rajpur, Parineeti Chopra, Vaani Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor
• Director: Maneesh Sharma

Shuddh Desi Romance, a romantic comedy-drama film from 2013, was brought to life under the production of Aditya Chopra. Set in the enchanting backdrop of Jaipur, Rajasthan, the story delves into the contrasting perspectives of the younger generation concerning commitment, live-in relationships, arranged marriages, and love marriages within the context of small-town India. The film's premiere took place during the Gala Presentation segment of the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival, gaining international recognition and attention.

Upon its release, Shuddh Desi Romance garnered favourable reviews from critics. Its triumph extended to the Indian box office, where it emerged as a certified hit. The investment into the film totalled to Rs. 25 crores. Shuddh Desi Romance made an impressive mark in the domestic Market, accumulating Rs. 29.5 crores net during its initial five days of screening. The film sustained its success trajectory, amassing around Rs. 36.27 crores net within its first week. The eighth day witnessed the film's approximately Rs. 12.5 crores net collection. Despite a slight dip in the second weekend, with nearly Rs. 6 crores net, the film maintained momentum. By the end of the second week, Shuddh Desi Romance achieved a net collection of Rs. 8.58 crores, resulting in a cumulative total of about Rs. 45 crores net over two weeks.

The film's overseas performance was equally impressive. It raked in Rs. 7.04 crores during its first weekend in international markets. Continuing its overseas triumph, Shuddh Desi Romance accumulated an impressive Rs. 12.61 crores over ten days. Its success story persisted, eventually surpassing the Rs. 14.84 crores mark during three weeks.

PK

• Star Cast: Aamir Khan, Sanjay Dutt, Sushant Singh Rajput, Anushka Sharma, Boman Irani
• Director: Rajkumar Hirani

PK, a 2014 science fiction satirical comedy-drama film, was a collaborative effort between Rajkumar Hirani and Vidhu Vinod Chopra, who co-produced the film under their respective banners, Rajkumar Hirani Films and Vinod Chopra Films. Following its release, PK garnered widespread acclaim from critics, who particularly applauded the humour embedded within its narrative. The film's excellence was further validated by participating in the 60th Filmfare Awards, where it secured 8 nominations and clinched two victories. In addition, PK collected five Producers Guild Film Awards and two Screen Awards, establishing its dominance on the awards circuit.

Remarkably, PK was brought to life with an investment of Rs. 122 crores. It proceeded to shatter records by becoming the first Indian film to amass over Rs. 700 crores worldwide. The movie's impact was intense, earning it the title of the highest-grossing Indian film at its release. Notably, PK's worldwide gross stood at Rs. 769.89 crores, further solidifying its stature as the 8th highest-grossing Indian film and the 9th highest-grossing film within India's borders.

Detective Byomkesh Bakshy

• Star Cast: Sushant Singh Rajput, Anand Tiwari, Neeraj Kabi, Divya Menon, Swastika Mukherjee, Meiyang Chang
• Director: Dibakar Banerjee

Detective Byomkesh Bakshy!, a cinematic creation of 2015, is a mystery-laden action thriller brought to fruition through the joint efforts of Dibankar Banerjee and Aditya Chopra. The narrative draws its essence from the fiction pages, inspired by the ingenious detective character Byomkesh Bakshi by the renowned Bengali writer Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay.

The reception from critics was notably positive, underscoring the film's artistic merits. However, when it came to its financial aspect, Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! faced challenges, finding itself falling short of commercial success. A glimpse into the film's initial days at the box office reveals Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! started its journey by amassing Rs. 4.2 crores net in India on its opening day. The momentum sustained, with the film garnering Rs. 4.5 crores and Rs. 5.36 crores on its second and third days, respectively, culminating in an impressive weekend total of Rs. 14.1 crores within the Indian market. On a global scale, the film's cumulative Earnings reached Rs. 34.68 crores.

M.S Dhoni: The Untold Story

• Star Cast: Sushant Singh Rajput, Kiara Advani, Disha Patani, Anupam Kher, Bhumika Chawla
• Director: Neeraj Pandey

M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story emerges as a riveting biographical sports drama that spotlighted the remarkable journey of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the former Indian national crick team’s captain in Test, ODI, and T20I formats. Through a series of significant life events, the film meticulously weaves the narrative thread of Dhoni's life, Offering insights into his evolution from a young age. Produced by Fox Star Studios, the film's release marked a monumental occasion in the realm of Bollywood, spreading its cinematic wings across an impressive 61 countries, thereby achieving the distinction of the widest-ever release for a Bollywood production. Going beyond linguistic boundaries, M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story was made accessible to a diverse audience by being presented in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Marathi languages. However, the Marathi release faced opposition and was subsequently cancelled.

As the curtains rose on the film's release, it swiftly secured its place as both a critical and commercial triumph. Positioned as the fifth highest-grossing Bollywood film of 2016, it resonated powerfully with audiences worldwide, earning its spot as the sixth highest-grossing Indian film of the same year, amassing an impressive Rs. 215.48 crores.

Raabta

• Star Cast: Sushant Singh Rajput, Kriti Sanon, Jim Sarbh, Varun Sharma
• Director: Dinesh Vijan

Raabta, a cinematic offering from the year 2017, unfolds as a captivating blend of romantic action, thriller, and comedy elements, all while being co-produced by a trio of creative minds: Dinesh Vijan, Homi Adajania, and Bhushan Kumar. The film finds its essence in the attractive notion of lovers being reincarnated. However, Raabta's journey was not devoid of controversy. Producer Allu Aravind of Geetha Arts raised concerns, asserting that the film bore striking similarities to the storyline and characters of the studio's 2009 creation, Magadheera. Despite these challenges, Raabta ventured forth, garnering a Range of reviews encompassing a mix of positives and negatives. Particularly lauded were the performances, action sequences, melodic tunes, heartfelt emotions, and deft direction that added depth to the film's cinematic canvas.

The cinematic endeavour came to life against a budgetary backdrop of Rs. 59.07 crores, indicative of the investment dedicated to crafting its visual and narrative splendour. Raabta collected Rs. 15.93 crores nationwide. This financial trajectory continued, culminating in a lifetime national collection of Rs. 25.67 crores. Notably, the film's worldwide gross collection was Rs. 39.05 crores.

Kedarnath

• Star Cast: Sushant Singh Rajput, Sara Ali Khan, Nitish Bhardwaj, Pooja Gor
• Director: Abhishek Kapoor

Kedarnath emerges as an emotional, romantic disaster film, weaving an inter-faith love story. At its heart, the narrative revolves around the love that blossoms between a privileged Hindu Brahmin girl from a family that owns establishments near the respected temple and a Muslim youth who works as a 'pithoo' within the same vicinity.

Upon its release, Kedarnath navigated diverse critical feedback. While it garnered praise for the impeccable performances of the lead actors, the breathtaking cinematography, soulful music, and the engaging storyline, it was not resistant to criticism. The film encountered scrutiny over aspects like its visual effects, screenplay, and overall execution. Within commercial success, Kedarnath emerged as a moderate achiever. The film's influence was also tangible on the financial front, grossing Rs. 85.28 crores in the domestic market and Rs. 11.36 crores in overseas territories, thereby pushing its worldwide gross earnings to a remarkable Rs. 96.64 crores.

Sonchiriya

• Star Cast: Sushant Singh Rajput, Bhumi Pednekar, Manoj Bajpayee, Ranvir Shorey, Ashutosh Rana
• Director: Abhishek Chaubey

Released in 2019, Sonchiriya unfurls as an action-packed cinematic experience, summarising a narrative deeply rooted in the backdrop of Chambal. Notably, the film's authenticity is further enriched by its exclusive use of the Bundeli dialect for its dialogues. The critical reception of Sonchiriya reflected a chorus of positivity, with reviewers lauding various elements of the film. The film's merits were acknowledged, from the performances that breathed life into the characters to the skillful direction, the compelling screenplay, the masterful cinematography, and the captivating visual style.

Behind the scenes, the making of Sonchiriya was a venture that demanded a budget of Rs. 22 crores, Earmarking significant resources to bring its creative vision to life. With a domestic collection of Rs. 10.42 crores, the film faced a substantial difference between its expenditure and earnings, marking it as a notable underperformance.

Chhichhore

• Star Cast: Sushant Singh Rajput, Shraddha Kapoor, Varun Sharma, Naveen Polishetty, Tushar Pandey, Tahir Raj Bhasin, Prateik Babbar
• Director: Nitesh Tiwari

Chhichhore, a cinematic gem from 2019, gracefully navigates the territory of a coming-of-age comedy-drama. The movie earned a resounding chorus of applause on both critical and commercial fronts. Its direction, narrative trajectory, dialogues, humour, and stellar performances by the ensemble cast garnered widespread acclaim. Moreover, the film's remarkable ability to weave a significant social message and authentically portray the vibrant hostel life within Indian colleges added to its accolades. On the global stage, Chhichhore collected a remarkable Rs. 215 crores. Notably, Chhichhore is Sushant Singh Rajput's final theatrical release before his untimely departure on June 14, 2020.

Drive

• Star Cast: Sushant Singh Rajput, Jacqueline Fernandez, Vikramjeet Virk, Sapna Pabbi, Boman Irani, Pankaj Tripathi
• Director: Tarun Mansukhani

Drive, a 2019 action-heist cinematic creation, bears the creative imprints of Hiroo Yash Johar, Karan Johar, and Apoorva Mehta, who jointly contributed as writers and producers under the Dharma Productions banner. While initially slated for a theatrical debut on September 7, 2018, the film's release was subject to delays, eventually resulting in a shift to June 28, 2019. Interestingly, the theatrical release never took place, and the film found its platform on Netflix, where it was directly released on November 1, 2019. This noteworthy cinematic endeavour served as a touching farewell for Sushant Singh Rajput, constituting his final film appearance before his death.

Dil Bechara

• Star Cast: Sushant Singh Rajput, Sanjana Sanghi, Sahil Vaid, Saswata Chatterjee, Swastika Mujherjee
• Director: Mukesh Chhabra

Dil Bechara, a cinematic creation from 2020, unfolds as a tender coming-of-age romance. Inspired by John Green's acclaimed 2012 novel, "The Fault in Our Stars," and the subsequent 2014 American film adaptation, the movie serves as an unexpected posthumous offering, notably marking the final appearance of SSR. The path to theatrical release was not devoid of challenges. After the death of SSR, the theatrical distribution shifted to digital release, and the movie came out on the Disney+ Hotstar streaming platform. In a touching tribute to Rajput, the film was made accessible without subscription in India and select countries. Produced on a budget of Rs. 30 crores, the movie received almost 9.5 crores views within 24 hours of its release, making it one of the top OTT releases.

Dil Bechara garnered positive reviews, celebrating a range of elements that contributed to its charm. The running time, actors' performances, narrative, character portrayal, beautiful soundtrack, narrative cohesion, and screenplay all received commendation. However, amidst the sea of praise, criticisms emerged regarding certain aspects of the film's direction.

Conclusion

Sushant Singh Rajput's legacy transcends the boundaries of cinema. He was more than an actor; he symbolised aspirations, dreams, and the pursuit of excellence. As we remember his life, let us also reflect on the importance of supporting one another, nurturing talent, and fostering an environment where artists can creatively and emotionally thrive. Sushant's journey serves as a reminder that each individual's story has the power to touch lives, ignite passions, and leave a life-long mark on the world.