Why Sushant Singh Rajput chose acting: Insights from a rare 2017 interview reveal his true motivation

The late Sushant Singh Rajput is remembered as one of Bollywood’s most talented and versatile actors. While his career was marked by memorable performances in films like “MS Dhoni: The Untold Story,” “Kai Po Che,” and “Chhichhore,” his path to becoming an actor was rooted in much deeper reasons than many might assume. In an insightful interview with renowned film critic Mayank Shekhar in December 2017, Rajput revealed the unique reason he chose acting—a decision that stemmed from his introverted nature and the desire to overcome it.

The Unexpected Journey into Acting

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Rajput, in the interview, confessed that he was inherently shy and introverted, qualities that typically deter people from pursuing a career that puts them in the public eye. However, for Rajput, this very challenge became the reason to step into acting. He believed that acting was a way to “hide behind characters” and express himself without the pressure of being his true self in front of others. This ability to immerse himself in different roles allowed him to confront his shyness while also making a living from it.

He once said, “When you know you’re standing on assumptions, you don’t take yourself seriously. And when that happens, it becomes dramatically easier to play other people.” Acting, for Rajput, became a medium to explore human emotions and escape from his own self-consciousness.

From Stage Fright to the Silver Screen

Another surprising revelation from the interview was Rajput’s admission of having stage fright. While most people would steer clear of professions that demand constant public performance, Rajput viewed this as a challenge worth embracing. He found that through acting, he could channel his anxiety into playing characters, further fueling his passion for the craft.

It wasn’t just about hiding, though. Rajput had a deeper philosophical approach to why acting appealed to him. He believed that the world teaches us to seek the “right” answers, but it’s the ability to ask the right questions that truly sparks creativity. In acting, he found a way to ask questions about human nature through the characters he played.

Dance and Theatre: The Beginning of Expression

Before he ventured into films, Rajput’s initial connection with performance art was through dance. He often spoke about how dancing on stage gave him his first taste of expressing emotions in front of an audience. Dance helped him discover that even without words, he could communicate and touch people’s emotions. This realization led him to theatre, where he began using both words and movements to tell stories.

He noted, “When I was on stage performing, I felt I could actually communicate, even without words. That was a start for sure; and then I thought, let’s use the help of words also. I began doing theatre.”

A Philosophy of Life Through Acting

Rajput’s approach to acting wasn’t merely about fame or success; it was a deeper philosophy on life and creativity. He was deeply interested in the psychology of performance and often talked about the concept of impact bias, which suggests that the emotions of success and failure are often exaggerated in our minds. For Rajput, the journey and process of creating art was more important than the result. It was this passion for the craft, combined with his intellectual curiosity, that set him apart from others in the industry.

Sushant’s Legacy as an Actor and Thinker

Sushant Singh Rajput’s decision to pursue acting may have started as a way to overcome his introverted nature, but it quickly evolved into a passion driven by his curiosity about life and human behavior. His ability to channel his shyness into powerful performances on screen remains a testament to his talent and resilience.

Even today, his legacy as an actor and thinker continues to inspire. Through his old interviews and performances, we see that acting wasn’t just a profession for Rajput—it was a way to understand life, to question assumptions, and to tell stories that resonated with audiences on a deep emotional level.

As we look back on his remarkable career, it’s clear that Sushant Singh Rajput’s choice to become an actor was driven by his hunger to express, to explore human nature, and to conquer his own limitations, making him an unforgettable figure in Indian cinema.