Shreya Mukherjee (HINDUSTAN TIMES; August 10, 2020)

Much like others, Manoj Muntashir, too, took time to come to terms with actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s sudden demise. The lyricist-writer, who’s seeking justice for Rajput, is worried about the repercussions of this incident on aspiring actors who come from smaller towns to make it big in the industry.

“People from small towns who come to Mumbai have been the backbone of this industry. They’re worried that if this can happen to him, it can happen to anyone,” he says.

Hailing from a small town in Uttar Pradesh, Muntashir, 44, understands the sentiment. “Whatever is happening around his death, has taken a toll on people. I get many messages and some even told me they’re scared to pursue their dreams. I don’t want them to feel that they’ll meet the same end as Sushant,” he says.

Without commenting on the case as CBI investigation is on, Muntashir rues the “circus” that has been going on. “After his body was found, it was quickly declared a suicide. Then came blaming the people he worked with, his mental health, and when more things started coming out, it showed that Mumbai Police might not have done their investigation correctly,” he adds.

The lyricist feels the mental health issue was blown out of proportion. “This industry is competitive, and we all go through mental health issues, but we can’t pass a judgement based on that,” he opines.