HOW AN ACTOR WAS FAILED BY INDIAN MEDIA

A witch-hunt masquerading as news exposed the darkest side of television channels and the pathetic state of journalism

- BY SWATI CHATURVEDI | Special to Gulf News

Rhea Chakraborty, the actor who has now received a comprehensive clean chit from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the death of her partner, actor Sushant Singh Rajput, is owed a public apology by a huge section of mainstream media “news channels” who literally ran a witch-hunt against her.

Sample some of the “reporting” live on “national television” that was inflicted on the grieving 28-year-old, her parents, and young brother.

The worst offenders were, incredibly, women journalists and anchors, saying things like, “women can be possessive,” or “it is seen in Indian families that girlfriends don’t like the man having any relationship with his family.” Yes, you read that right — without any evidence, Rhea Chakraborty was publicly character-assassinated.

She was accused of providing drugs to Rajput in a bid to keep him dependent on her. Her brother was tarred as a drug addict and pusher. One woman journalist even marched into a studio and, live on air, claimed to have the “full file” — including WhatsApp chats of Rhea and not just her, but also Deepika Padukone and other actors. This was part of an imaginary drug case that was foisted on Aryan Khan, son of superstar Shah Rukh Khan, in which the Narcotics Control Bureau dragged in half the Mumbai film industry. The “drug angle” was conveniently added to the Rajput case, pulling Rhea further into the storm.