Rhea Chakraborty says Aryan Khan's arrest echoed her brother Showik's ordeal
Rhea Chakraborty said Aryan Khan's 2021 drug case looked strikingly similar to what her brother Showik faced. She also spoke about the emotional strain of jail, public scrutiny and the friends who stood by her family.
Actor Rhea Chakraborty has said that watching Aryan Khan go through legal proceedings and intense public scrutiny in the 2021 drug case brought back memories of her own ordeal.
In a conversation with Variety India, Rhea said the developments were 'spectacularly similar', and added that more than her own case, they reminded her of what her brother Showik Chakraborty went through during the investigation into the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput.
Rhea faced intense public scrutiny in 2020 after Sushant Singh Rajput's death. She and Showik were investigated by multiple agencies, including the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), and Rhea spent 27 days in jail before she was granted bail. A year later, Aryan Khan, son of Shah Rukh Khan, was at the centre of a high-profile NCB investigation after being arrested in the 2021 cruise ship drug case. He spent 25 days in jail before securing bail.
Recalling her reaction, Rhea said that Aryan's case echoed the ordeal faced by her brother Showik.
"When I saw what Aryan was going through, it took me back because it was spectacularly similar. In fact, more than my story, it looked a lot like Showik's story. They also have a resemblance. It was very, very hard to watch. I did not speak to the media many times, and I still do not."
The emotional toll of incarceration
Rhea also spoke about the emotional impact of being in jail and the loss of identity that came with it. She described incarceration as one of the most difficult experiences of her life, saying it strips away a person's sense of identity and belonging. She said being separated from society and losing one's freedom can deeply affect self-worth and confidence.
She added, "Being away from family and being so uncertain about your liberty and your freedom is really challenging."
Rhea said she had consciously chosen not to publicly dwell on her pain despite the trauma she endured.
"I've obviously been through my share of pain, sadness, anger, tears and anxiety and PTSD... I still go through a lot of it. Now, I am on the other side, and I've actually sort of moved on quite a bit from it. But I believe that's one thing that's private to me because nothing else was private," the Jalebi actor said.
Rhea Chakraborty on those who stood by her
In the same interaction, Rhea also spoke about the people who supported her during that period. She said, "I had a bunch of close friends who stood by me. At the time, it was not cool to support me. Anyone who supported me used to get trolled and lose job opportunities."
Apart from her friends Shibani and Anusha Dandekar, Rhea credited actors Saqib Saleem and Huma Qureshi for being a pillar of strength for her family, particularly when both she and Showik were in jail.
Rhea, who was dating Sushant Singh Rajput at the time, was arrested in September 2020 on charges of allegedly procuring drugs for him. She spent 27 days in Byculla Jail before being granted bail.
Actor Rhea Chakraborty has said that watching Aryan Khan go through legal proceedings and intense public scrutiny in the 2021 drug case brought back memories of her own ordeal.
In a conversation with Variety India, Rhea said the developments were 'spectacularly similar', and added that more than her own case, they reminded her of what her brother Showik Chakraborty went through during the investigation into the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput.
Rhea faced intense public scrutiny in 2020 after Sushant Singh Rajput's death. She and Showik were investigated by multiple agencies, including the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), and Rhea spent 27 days in jail before she was granted bail. A year later, Aryan Khan, son of Shah Rukh Khan, was at the centre of a high-profile NCB investigation after being arrested in the 2021 cruise ship drug case. He spent 25 days in jail before securing bail.
Recalling her reaction, Rhea said that Aryan's case echoed the ordeal faced by her brother Showik.
"When I saw what Aryan was going through, it took me back because it was spectacularly similar. In fact, more than my story, it looked a lot like Showik's story. They also have a resemblance. It was very, very hard to watch. I did not speak to the media many times, and I still do not."
The emotional toll of incarceration
Rhea also spoke about the emotional impact of being in jail and the loss of identity that came with it. She described incarceration as one of the most difficult experiences of her life, saying it strips away a person's sense of identity and belonging. She said being separated from society and losing one's freedom can deeply affect self-worth and confidence.
She added, "Being away from family and being so uncertain about your liberty and your freedom is really challenging."
Rhea said she had consciously chosen not to publicly dwell on her pain despite the trauma she endured.
"I've obviously been through my share of pain, sadness, anger, tears and anxiety and PTSD... I still go through a lot of it. Now, I am on the other side, and I've actually sort of moved on quite a bit from it. But I believe that's one thing that's private to me because nothing else was private," the Jalebi actor said.
Rhea Chakraborty on those who stood by her
In the same interaction, Rhea also spoke about the people who supported her during that period. She said, "I had a bunch of close friends who stood by me. At the time, it was not cool to support me. Anyone who supported me used to get trolled and lose job opportunities."
Apart from her friends Shibani and Anusha Dandekar, Rhea credited actors Saqib Saleem and Huma Qureshi for being a pillar of strength for her family, particularly when both she and Showik were in jail.
Rhea, who was dating Sushant Singh Rajput at the time, was arrested in September 2020 on charges of allegedly procuring drugs for him. She spent 27 days in Byculla Jail before being granted bail.
