Rhea Chakraborty, the Bollywood actress who was at the center of controversy following the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, recently opened up about her experience in jail and the difficulties she faced during her time behind bars. In a conversation with author Chetan Bhagat on his show ‘Deeptalk With Chetan Bhagat’, Rhea revealed the challenges she encountered, from her first meal in prison to the toilet facilities.
Four years ago, Rhea Chakraborty became one of the most vilified figures in India after the untimely demise of Sushant Singh Rajput. Blamed by a section of the media and the public for his death, she was arrested and had to spend nearly a month in jail. Rhea shared her side of the story during her conversation with Chetan Bhagat.
She began by discussing the strict COVID-19 rules that required her to be in solitary confinement for 14 days. I was the only one in the room. I was so hungry and tired that I ate whatever was given to me, revealed Rhea. Her first meal in prison consisted of roti and capsicum ki subzi, which she later described as merely capsicum in water. Despite the less-than-ideal conditions, she was grateful for having food during her time in jail.
Rhea also expressed her gratitude for the support she had from her family and friends, realizing that many prisoners do not have such a luxury. At least, I have my family and friends. I told myself, ‘You will get justice. You will get bail. You have not done anything wrong’, she said. Rhea also mentioned how she found inspiration from the women she met in jail and decided not to waste her time sulking about things that were beyond her control.
When asked about the toilet facilities in jail, Rhea admitted that they were far from ideal. It’s obviously not the best. It’s one of the hardest parts about being in jail, she said. However, she emphasized that the mental trauma she experienced was far more challenging than the physical discomfort.
Rhea went on to discuss other aspects of her life in jail, such as the canteen where prisoners could buy biscuits and occasionally chana as well. With a monthly money order of Rs. 5,000 from her family, she had to manage with that amount, using it to buy necessities like water. She also mentioned the meal times in jail, with breakfast at 6 am, lunch at 11 am, and dinner at 2 pm, following the British system.
Sharing a unique routine she developed, Rhea said, I changed my whole cycle. I started waking up at 4 am and finishing my dinner at 2 pm. She explained that she didn’t enjoy the food served in jail and preferred to have it while it was still warm rather than eating cold food later.
Reflecting on her experience upon receiving bail, Rhea recalled a promise she made to her fellow inmates. I had promised all the girls in the jail that I’ll dance for them the day I get bail, she said. Despite her brother not receiving bail, Rhea decided to fulfill her promise, wanting to bring a bit of happiness to the women she wouldn’t see again. She performed a full-on Naagin dance on the floor to the song ‘Naagin Gin Gin’, and her cell mates joined in, expressing their joy for her impending release.
While Rhea faced immense media scrutiny, she acknowledged that it did help expedite certain processes. Despite the challenges she faced during her time in jail, Rhea bravely shared her experience, shedding light on the realities of prison life.
