Late actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s demise on June 14th had sent shockwaves across the country. While it was reported that depression was the main cause behind it, many people have constantly taken to social media to dig out other theories behind Sushant’s death. Soon, we found ourselves in the midst of a big debate on nepotism in the Bollywood film industry.
As per a report on HT, Bollywood writer and editor Apurva Asrani tweeted about how blind items against Sushant are “vicious & cowardly”. Here’s the complete tweet:-
Attacking soft targets like KRK, while keeping mum on the more powerful 'blind item' experts is sheer hypocrisy. KRK is vile, but atleast has the guts to put his name to his opinions. Rajeev's blind items against #SushantSinghRajput are vicious & cowardly. Don't be selective.
— Apurva (@Apurvasrani) July 6, 2020
While Actor Manoj Bajpayee tweeted in support of Asrani, veteran actress Soni Razdan penned down a long note on how people are not giving due importance to mental health and depression as “the real issue” in this scenario. She contradicted him saying that it is actually “internal” factors and circumstances and not external ones that can engulf a person.
@Apurvasrani What’s really bothering me in all this is the fact that the real issue – depression and mental illness – is now obfuscated by sound and fury. The point being that depression does not need a reason to engulf a person. It comes unbidden to the successful, the rich…
— Soni Razdan (@Soni_Razdan) July 6, 2020
Find her entire tweet here:-
…as much as anyone else. Think Robin Williams Kate Spade Anthony Bourdain and countless others. When you talk around the main issue you do a great disservice to all those who may be also suffering and think it’s due to external circumstances when in fact…
— Soni Razdan (@Soni_Razdan) July 6, 2020
it’s due to an internal one that the person suffering cannot control.
— Soni Razdan (@Soni_Razdan) July 6, 2020
By ‘you’ I don’t mean You…. You know what I mean 🙂
— Soni Razdan (@Soni_Razdan) July 6, 2020
However, Asrani disagreed with her and called her out for diagnosing depression on social media, calling it “unfair”. Check out his tweet:-
Untrue ma'am. Depression can be triggered by environmental factors like social isolation & a stressful workplace too. Unfair to diagnose Sushant's depression on twitter. But we do know of a campaign to label him a rapist, unprofessional & a write off. It shouldn't be covered up. https://t.co/qwwnZkqX3h
— Apurva (@Apurvasrani) July 7, 2020
What followed was a very long debate. Check out the complete discussion below:-
Mental illness is something most people are born with is the only point I’m trying to make and you can’t have half the discussion and not the other half. Triggers can be many I agree. By all means discuss but there is a lot that’s unfair on Twitter right now too.
— Soni Razdan (@Soni_Razdan) July 7, 2020
Again untrue. Most people are not born with mental illnesses. There are triggers that can cause the onset (do read this article). While there is much i.e unfair about Twitter, more unfair are the camps & the bullying. Sad that no one wants to discuss it. https://t.co/L5lqoUYgU3.
— Apurva (@Apurvasrani) July 7, 2020
It runs in families Apurva. I can’t go into details on twitter but am happy to have a conversation about it with you anytime. I agree it’s very complex and one shouldn’t jump to conclusions either ways. All I was saying is right now it’s seeming to be one sided.
— Soni Razdan (@Soni_Razdan) July 7, 2020
I think dialogue is key. Respectful, honest discussions like this one. Both points of view are important. Sadly there is no dialogue between the two
— Apurva (@Apurvasrani) July 7, 2020
It is good to see conversations around mental health and depression finally getting the due attention they deserve.
What do you think of the issue? Tell us!