Shibani Akhtar, a close friend of Rhea Chakraborty, recently recalled the painful media trial against the latter in 2020 after Sushant Singh Rajput's demise, which changed their lives.
Rhea Chakraborty became a subject of national hate after she was accused in Sushant Singh Rajput's death case. Amid the investigation, the actress had to witness a media trial where every channel called her out for being the cause behind Sushant's untimely demise before court's verdict. While co-operating in the investigation, Rhea and her family had to deal with a lot of character assassination, a high-profile drug case and baseless allegations. Although Rhea maintained silence through everything, four years after the incident, her close friend, Shibani Akhtar, shared what went on behind the scenes.
Shibani Akhtar and her husband, Farhan Akhtar, share a close friendship with Rhea Chakraborty. Despite a significant age difference, they have been a big source of emotional support for each other. Shibani, who often dons the hat of a big sister in the relationship, recently sat down for an interview alongside Rhea with The Hollywood Reporter. During the conversation, they discussed the traumatic period after Sushant Singh Rajput's death, and Shibani who was also trolled for her bond with Rhea mentioned that it was a painful time for the latter. She said:
"It was a journey that nobody could have predicted. It was a journey that was difficult and painful, and she survived it in the most beautifully stunning ways. I don't know how to put it in words, but it was tough."
Shibani added that the experience made Rhea Chakraborty, a strong person, even stronger, which will continue to be with her for the rest of her life. The actress mentioned that no one should have suffered the way Rhea did. Instead, she recalled that when she met a 16-year-old Rhea, she was impressed with her practicality and smartness. Consequently, she hopes that the actress reaches her full potential and shines bright in the future. She said:
"I would want her to realise her full potential, because when I see her… her growth… the woman she has grown into from the 16-year-old I met… she has so much potential. She is so incredibly smart, she is very practical, emotionally mature… and in fact, I look up to her and live vicariously through her. I just want her to live to her full potential."
Previously, Rhea Chakraborty sat down for an interview with Humans Of Bombay and recalled the time when she was hounded by photographers for quotes outside courts and police stations. She mentioned that she was wrongly blamed for a lot of things on national television, which made her angry and affected her health. Recalling her experience, Rhea said:
"I didn't think I would have it in my heart to forgive for all that had happened. But, it just became the simpler way to be because I was very angry for a long time. All anger gave me gut issues and acidity. I suffered from acidity for about three years, very badly. Forgiveness became the only option. I was almost forced to go down the path of forgiveness."
Rhea Chakraborty began her career in the entertainment industry as a video jockey (VJ) for MTV India. As a teen, she participated in shows like Pepsi MTV Wassup, TicTac College Beat, and MTV Gone in 60 Seconds. She made her acting debut with the Telugu film, Tuneega Tuneega in 2012. A year later, she entered Bollywood with Mere Dad Ki Maruti and went on to star in films like Sonali Cable, Bank Chor, Half Girlfriend, and Jalebi. After being caught up in Sushant Singh Rajput's case, she became a gang leader on MTV Roadies 19 and was recently given a clean chit in the CBI's final case report.
What do you think about Shibani Akhtar's revelations about how Rhea Chakraborty dealt with difficult media trials post Sushant Singh Rajput’s demise?
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