Sushant Singh Rajput
Sushant Singh Rajput is an Indian actor, best known for Tamil cinema. Sushant Singh Rajput began their career in 2013 and has been a prominent figure in the industry for over 13 years. With 30 credits to their name and an average audience rating of 7.0, Sushant Singh Rajput remains one of the most prolific and celebrated talents in the industry. Sushant Singh Rajput is one of the most closely watched talents of their generation, with a rapidly growing body of acclaimed work.
- Born
- Age
- 40
Biography
Sushant Singh Rajput (21 January 1986 – 14 June 2020) was a Hindi cinema actor best known for his intense dramatic roles and his transition from television to Bollywood stardom. He debuted in films with Kai Po Che! (2013, directed by Abhishek Kapoor) and gained widespread recognition for portraying MS Dhoni in MS Dhoni: The Untold Story (2016), earning a Filmfare nomination for Best Actor. His performance in Chhichhore (2019, directed by Nitesh Tiwari) won the National Film Award for Best Hindi Film, and he was known for immersive preparation — learning cricket for the Dhoni biopic and astronomy for his final film Dil Bechara (2020). He was featured twice on Forbes India's Celebrity 100 list and remains a significant figure in Hindi cinema, with his death in June 2020 sparking widespread national conversation.
Career Milestones
Bollywood film debut
View film →Won Producers Guild Film Award for Best Performance in a Leading Role (Male)
View film →Title role in major sports biopic, first Filmfare Best Actor nomination
View film →Featured on Forbes India Celebrity 100 list
National Award-winning film Chhichhore; Screen Award win
View film →Iconic Roles
MS Dhoni: The Untold Story
Sushant's most celebrated role, portraying the iconic Indian cricket captain. His uncanny resemblance and immersive performance earned him a Filmfare Award nomination for Best Actor and is widely regarded as his career-defining performance.
Chhichhore
A fan-favourite role as the spirited college friend whose dialogues about failure and perseverance became widely shared motivational quotes, resonating deeply with Indian audiences.
Detective Byomkesh Bakshy!
His portrayal of the iconic Bengali literary detective was widely praised for its depth and nuance, showcasing his range as an actor beyond mainstream Bollywood.
Kai Po Che!
His Bollywood debut role as a passionate cricket coach and dreamer, establishing him as a serious actor with strong screen presence from the outset of his film career.
Kedarnath
His portrayal of a humble Muslim porter who falls in love amidst the 2013 Kedarnath floods demonstrated his ability to bring emotional depth and vulnerability to challenging roles.
Defining Moments
The kite-fighting climax where Ishaan watches his friend Omi die during the 2002 Gujarat riots, and the emotional breakdown that follows — a raw, wordless performance of grief and helplessness
Sushant's debut film performance that immediately announced him as a serious actor; the scene's emotional weight drew widespread critical praise and established his ability to carry complex dramatic moments
View film →Replicating MS Dhoni's iconic helicopter shot — Sushant trained for 13 months under Dhoni's childhood coach Keshav Banerjee to perfect the shot, and the execution was so convincing that viewers could not distinguish it from the real Dhoni
Became one of Bollywood's most celebrated actor-sportsperson transformations; the physicality and mannerism of Dhoni were so well captured that it cemented Sushant as a leading actor and the film became a massive commercial success
View film →The scene where young Dhoni gets dropped from the Indian Railways team and sits dejected at the station — a quiet, internalized portrayal of disappointment without melodrama
Widely cited by critics as a masterclass in restrained acting; Sushant conveyed Dhoni's stoic resilience through body language alone, earning comparisons to the real Dhoni's famously calm temperament
View film →The romantic rooftop scene with Sara Ali Khan in Kedarnath, set against the backdrop of the sacred pilgrimage town — a tender, understated love story between a Hindu pilgrim and a Muslim porter
The film's emotional core rested on Sushant's chemistry and his portrayal of quiet devotion; the scene is frequently referenced as one of his most naturally charming romantic performances
View film →The climactic 'loser speech' where Anni (Sushant) convinces his hospitalized son that failing an exam doesn't make you a loser — 'Tera result decide nahi karta tu loser hai ya nahi… teri koshish decide karti hai'
The scene became a cultural touchstone for mental health and academic pressure conversations in India; its message about failure and resilience resonated deeply with audiences and won the National Film Award for Best Hindi Film
View film →Sushant Singh Rajput by the Numbers
If you watched every Sushant Singh Rajput film back-to-back, you'd be at it for roughly 1 day and 4h. Most-paired with Abhishek Kapoor — 2 films together.
Filmography
See all 30 credits →
Collaboration Network
The Constellation
Top 10 most-paired collaborators. Bubble size and line thickness reflect how many films they share with Sushant Singh Rajput.
Career Analytics
Genre Breakdown
Language Distribution
Films by Decade
Top Co-Actors
See all →Sushant Singh Rajput has worked most frequently with Abhishek Kapoor (2 films), Kriti Sanon (2 films), Boman Irani (2 films), Nawazuddin Siddiqui (2 films), and Rajesh Sharma (2 films).
Did You Know?
Sushant Singh Rajput was a trained engineer who left his studies at Delhi College of Engineering to pursue acting.
He began his career in television, gaining fame for his role as Manav Deshmukh in the popular soap opera 'Pavitra Rishta'.
He was a National Olympiad Winner in Physics.
He was an avid reader and owned a telescope, reflecting his deep interest in astronomy and science.
He performed his own stunts in several films, including 'Raabta' and 'Drive'.
Signature Dialogues
Success ke baad ka plan sabke paas hai … lekin agar galti se fail ho gaye … toh failure se kaise deal karna hai … koi baat hi nahi karna chahta
Anni·Chhichhore
Tumhara result decide nahi karta hai ki tum loser ho ki nahi … tumhari koshish decide karti hai
Anni·Chhichhore
Janam Kab Lena Hai Aur Marna Kab Hai, Yeh Hum Decide Nahi Kar Sakte, Par Jeena Kaise Hai Wo Hum Decide Kar Sakte Hai
Immanuel Rajkumar Junior·Dil Bechara
Ek bowler wicket lega … ek acha batsman kisi match mein aapke liye run banayega, kisi match mein nahi banayega … lekin ek acha fielder har match mein aapke liye run bachayega
Mahendra Singh Dhoni·MS Dhoni: The Untold Story
Shaadi Aur Commitment…Saali Aur Baat Hai
Raghu Ram·Shuddh Desi Romance
Photos
See all →
News & Stories
Singh Raput unites with Kai Po Che director
16/2/2018
Sushant Singh and Jacqueline, off to Israel
28/9/2017
A Bollywood actor acts in India’s second space film
2/8/2017
Actor Sushant Singh Rajput Stills
13/10/2016
Legacy & Influence
Sushant Singh Rajput's legacy in Indian cinema is defined by his remarkable transition from television to film and his portrayal of complex, relatable characters. Beginning his career with the popular TV show 'Pavitra Rishta', he successfully crossed over to films with the critically acclaimed 'Kai Po Che!' (2013), establishing himself as a promising talent. His career trajectory was marked by a deliberate choice of diverse roles, avoiding stereotypical hero parts. His most iconic contribution was the titular role in the biographical sports drama 'M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story' (2016). Rajput's meticulous preparation and nuanced performance, capturing the cricketer's mannerisms and emotional journey, were widely praised, making the film a major commercial and critical success. This role cemented his status as a bankable star capable of carrying a major biopic. He further demonstrated his versatility in films like the sci-fi 'Raabta' (2017), the thriller 'Kedarnath' (2018), and the National Award-winning 'Chhichhore' (2019). In 'Chhichhore', his portrayal of a father addressing campus suicide resonated deeply, highlighting his ability to anchor films with strong social messages. Rajput was known for his intellectual curiosity, often discussing physics, astronomy, and philosophy, which he brought into his public persona. His untimely death in 2020 sparked widespread conversations about mental health, nepotism, and the pressures within the Hindi film industry. His filmography, though cut short, showcases an actor who sought challenging work and left a lasting impression as a dedicated performer who championed self-made success and scientific thinking. He is remembered for inspiring many aspiring actors from non-film backgrounds and for his authentic portrayals that connected with a young, contemporary audience.