Rhea Chakraborty is returning to acting after a prolonged absence from the screen. In a recent interview, the actress spoke about the professional and emotional difficulties she says she faced following Sushant Singh Rajput’s death and recalled how filmmaker Hansal Mehta encouraged her to return to work.
Rhea Chakraborty is preparing to make her return to acting after spending several years away from the screen.
The actress, whose career came under intense public scrutiny following the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput in 2020, has spoken candidly about the difficult period and how it affected her professional life.
Rhea is now returning with a new series directed by Hansal Mehta, in which she shares the screen with Anil Kapoor.
Ahead of the comeback, the actress opened up about the challenges she says she experienced after stepping away from acting.
Rhea Says Work Became Difficult After 2020
According to Rhea, she had spent more than a decade working towards establishing herself as an actor before her career came to an abrupt halt.
She said that following Sushant Singh Rajput’s death, she stopped receiving acting opportunities and felt that people in the industry no longer wanted to work with her.
The actress described the period as one of the lowest points of her life.
Rhea said the prolonged uncertainty surrounding her career also affected her mental well-being and that she sought professional help during that time.
Her comments offer an insight into how the intense public scrutiny surrounding her personal life affected her relationship with the film industry.
Hansal Mehta Helped Bring Her Back to Acting
Rhea revealed that she initially turned down Hansal Mehta’s offer when the filmmaker approached her for his new series.
At that stage, she said, she had effectively decided to leave acting behind.
According to the actress, she told Mehta that she had quit the profession.
The filmmaker, however, reportedly encouraged her to reconsider.
Rhea recalled that Mehta told her he needed her for the role and encouraged her to take the opportunity without worrying excessively about how she would perform.
That conversation eventually persuaded her to accept the project.
Returning to the Set Changed Her Perspective
Once she returned to the shooting floor, Rhea said she realised that acting still felt like a natural part of her life.
She compared returning to acting after such a long break to activities such as swimming or riding a bicycle—skills that can come back even after a lengthy gap.
The experience appears to have changed her perspective on her career.
Rather than viewing acting as something she had permanently left behind, Rhea began seeing the profession as a part of herself that she could reconnect with.
Rhea Credits People Who Supported Her
The actress also spoke about the people who stood beside her during one of the most difficult phases of her life.
She said she would always remember those who offered guidance and support when she was struggling.
Rhea particularly reflected on the importance of friendship and the support she received from women around her.
According to the actress, while she faced criticism from some women, she also encountered women who provided emotional strength when she needed it most.
She said those relationships had helped her understand the meaning of genuine friendship.
A Career Interrupted by Extraordinary Circumstances
Rhea’s career trajectory changed dramatically after the death of Sushant Singh Rajput on June 14, 2020.
The actor’s death triggered extensive media attention and multiple investigations, while Rhea, who had been in a relationship with Rajput, became a central figure in the public discussion surrounding the case.
She faced serious allegations during the subsequent investigations and was arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau in a drug-related case in September 2020. She was later granted bail.
It is important to distinguish those legal developments from claims about responsibility for Rajput’s death. Allegations and media speculation should not be presented as established findings of guilt.
Rhea Looks Ahead Rather Than Back
After years of being away from acting, Rhea’s latest project represents a significant professional comeback.
Her decision to accept Hansal Mehta’s series suggests that she is now looking towards rebuilding her career rather than allowing the events of the past to define her professional identity.
Working alongside an established actor such as Anil Kapoor also gives the comeback project considerable attention.
For Rhea, however, the significance of the return appears to extend beyond a new acting credit.
It represents her return to a profession she had once considered leaving permanently.
A New Chapter for the Actress
The journey back to the screen has taken Rhea several years.
Her latest comments indicate that the process was not simply about finding another acting opportunity. It also involved regaining confidence in her place within the industry.
Hansal Mehta’s decision to offer her a role became an important turning point in that process.
Now, as the new series brings her back before audiences, Rhea appears determined to approach her career on her own terms.
Whether the project becomes the beginning of a sustained second phase in her acting career remains to be seen. But after years away from the spotlight, the actress is once again preparing to face the camera.
