Sandip Ssingh: I think we as friends should have probably understood what Sushant was feeling and going through

Two weeks after Sushant Singh Rajput’s death by suicide continues to be in the news, friend and Bollywood producer Sandip Ssingh, talks to Bombay Times about that fateful day, how he is coping with it also about all the media speculation and theories around the actor's death. Excerpts...
The last two weeks must have been heart-breaking for you. Could you tell us how you are coping with the loss of your friend?
When I got the news, I did not believe it.I was sitting alone and thinking if it had really happened. Mahesh Shetty (Sushant's close friend) and I spoke; he said he’s coming to pick me up. Throughout the journey from my house to Sushant’s house in Bandra, we were inundated with calls. It was not sinking in that this had happened. We were sitting in silence and in shock throughout the journey. When we reached there, we were still in shock and disbelief, but we knew a lot of formalities had to be completed and his sister Mitu was the only one from his family there. I still remember, throughout the journey from the hospital to the crematorium, I kept wondering if it was really Sushant who I was taking with me.
While you have been with the family, helping them in the last two weeks, have you also been keeping up with all that’s being reported in the media and the social media activities?
When I read the stories, I could understand the emotions behind them. People are saying he suffered because of nepotism, some are pointing fingers at others saying that seven films were taken away from him. People are saying he was not happy, he was depressed, he was about to get married, he was not happy in his relationship... kya kya likha logon ne... whatever suited them. Let the enquiries get over before writing anything. Media has to understand the responsibility that lies on its shoulders because people react to what is reported. Sushant had done Kedarnath and Kai Po Che with Abhishek Kapoor, Ekta Kapoor had launched him in Pavitra Rishta, Dharma Productions and Yash Raj Films worked with him. We should have patience for the right things to come out and then react and point fingers.
Several things were spoken of right after Sushant’s demise - a section spoke about mental health issues, a section pointed out how Sushant was not appreciated amply for his talent and work. Was there anything that he told you in the last one year or so that made you feel he was going through a difficult patch or something that could have driven him to the edge?
First and foremost, we have to understand he was not an expressive person in his real life. He knew when and how to speak and to whom. He was a very different sort of a guy. When one goes through things, they don’t express themselves easily. I think we as friends should have probably understood what he was feeling and going through. Mahesh and I didn’t see him as a star, we always saw him as our friend. Aaj lagta hai thoda sa aur effort lena tha, thoda aur haq jata dete uspe toh...
In your social media post after his death, you spoke a lot about Sushant’s relationship with Ankita. How has she taken the news of his passing?
Ankita had spent the maximum time with him in the last 10 years or so. According to me, apart from his family, it has hit her the most. When they were together, she took care of him like no one else ever did. The day it happened, I knew she would be deeply impacted. She was always in touch with the family and they all loved her. She is family for them, they connect with her. It was important for her to meet the family before they went back to Patna.
Most people were not aware of your equation with Sushant dating back several years. When they saw you being so involved in everything that happened since the time of his death, many questioned your presence at the forefront.
It’s possibly some kind of insecurity. ‘Why is he there if we have worked with him’, could have been the riding thought. Kya main wait karta kisike bulave ka? Ya main yeh dekhta ki Sushant ki family se uski ek behen ke alava yahan aur koi nahi hai? People gossip and bitch; yehi saari cheezein thi jo shayad usko bhi bother karti thi. Please understand, I am also going through my own grief because of his death.
There are a lot of theories and so much talk about what could have led to his death...
Suspense kuch nahi hai. Media ko kya jaldi hai? His family and friends are waiting for the investigation to get over. We will get our answers. We need to hang on. We’re still acting emotionless. We have to understand everyone’s emotions. We are ready to bring people down. Maine family ka saath diya to mere pe ungli uthi. That is not done! Investigations pe curiosity aur bachpana kyun? It’s very stupid of us. His death is a sensitive matter. Even the police must be getting affected dealing with so much paperwork, people, details. Everything has to be done carefully. The cops have been so supportive towards his family and friends. We need to watch out for them, too.
Since Sushant's family plans to turn his childhood home in Patna into a memorial, we assume they will now start winding up his belongings from Mumbai.
It will take a bit of time. It’s still not sunk in. Thoda samay aur jaane dete hain. Pehle hum yeh to maan le ki wo chala gaya hai. His sister Mitu and I were chatting a few days ago in his house about his books. Thoda rukte hain, thoda jeete hain uske saath, kis baat ki jaldi hai.