Sushant Singh Rajput was a budding star in the making. An engineering dropout, he first made a name for himself in the highly competitive Indian television industry before moving on to commercial films. He distinguished himself as a sincere performer who always tried to bring out the best in his characters through his work.
Sushant’s shocking suicide became the subject of national remorse and anger against the secret dealings of Bollywood and its confluence with the drug culture. However, Sushant Singh Rajput’s movies in Bollywood are immortal in celluloid now and will serve as his legacy going forward.
Best Sushant Singh Rajput Movies
We decided to make a list of must-watch Sushant Singh Rajput films that are a testament to his skill as an actor and heart as a person. Sushant’s acting in some of these films is among the best in recent history for a male actor and strikes a chord immediately with the audience.
MS Dhoni: The Untold Story (2016)
MS Dhoni is probably India’s most cherished sportsperson ever. His fan following runs in millions and hardly has a match. So when Sushant played him on screen and brought his story of struggle, hard work, and eventual success to the big screen, audiences became pleased. Not just a renewed love for Dhoni but also Sushant. Dhoni’s biopic was one of Bollywood earliest iterations of a film about someone playing sports. This is because much of what we see in it is factually correct. Things like Dhoni accepting a TC’s job in the railways and starting his cricketing journey as a last-minute substitute in a school game because he played as a goalkeeper.
The best part about the movie is when that six in the 2011 World Cup final finally happens. The moment is even today a remembrance of the emergence of India as a powerful cricketing nation on the world stage. Sushant’s acting and brilliant performance on-screen mixed Dhoni’s quirky personality and his swashbuckling sporting style. It is undoubtedly one of the best performances of the last decade by a male actor.
Kai Po Che (2013)
‘Kai Po Che’ was the springboard for Sushant into the Bollywood limelight. It became a sleeper hit and a retelling of Gujarat’s checkered history. Yet, despite all odds, the strength is praise-worthy and ironclad. Sushant, Rajkumar Rao, and Amit Sadh played the protagonists, whose stories are ordinary but capture an extraordinary spirit of life.
Sushant’s first love of cricket reflects in his enthusiasm on screen. Sushant’s character binds the story together and brings all the characters together in a trying way.
Sonchiriya (2019)
Abhishek Chaubey’s spiraling Western is an impressive film. Independent features mostly fall out of favor due to lack of visibility. Audiences find it challenging to locate them in the sea of advertised and heavily marketed mediocre films. ‘Sonchiriya’s job is more complicated due to its Bundeli heavy dialogues. But good cinema doesn’t hide for too long. Once it is discovered, the talent on hand is sure to flourish. Veterans Manoj Bajpayee and Ashutosh Rana are the star attractions. Their contribution to the narrative elevates it and allows Chaubey to experiment with his central themes, hitherto tried only a few times in Indian films.
Chhichhore (2019)
‘Chhichhore’ became a super hit because of its nostalgic vibes. Audiences loved the film as they got to experience the fun and thrill of their college days once again. Sushant led the cast that included prominent names like Shraddha Kapoor, Varun Sharma, and Tahir Raj Bhasin. The plot has two timelines. The first timeline is of the past, where the group of friends is living their college days. And the other, the present, where they have gathered to support Anni, whose son tried to commit suicide because he couldn’t qualify for IITs.
The vibes that you get from the film are similar to ‘3 Idiots’. It carries a similar message as well. Sushant is terrific, both in the past and present version of his character. His measured performance combines emotion and energy generously to create a compelling balance.
Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! (2015)
Byomkesh’ was an unconventional film for Bollywood. Period pieces are rare, but stories about actual detectives are more infrequent. Much like the fictional legend of Sherlock Holmes became a cult classic, ‘Byomkesh Bakshi’ inspired similar sentiments in colonial India. The plot of the film revolves around a murder in the city of Calcutta. His methodology is intense and attracts unwanted attention from people looking to close the investigation.
Sushant Singh Rajput completely transforms himself for the role. Although he is naturally a Bengali, he adjusts to the requirements of his character and creates an authentic portrait. Under Dibakar Banerjee’s able direction, Sushant thrives. The nuance in his acting is well settling in the scheme of the film. There are no attempts to extract cheap thrills from the film. Instead, it is beautifully crafted as a slow-burn that takes its sweet time before getting the action ready.
PK (2014)
Mostly any film that Aamir Khan stars in belongs to him. His superstar image always takes center stage. But one of the most memorable dialogues from Raj Kumar Hirani’s ‘PK’ made Sushant a household name. “Sarfaraz dhoka nahi dega” has become a national sentiment for people named “Sarfaraz.” In typical Hirani style, the film tackles broader social issues in a light, humorous tone. However, the binding nature of these issues is offset by Hirani’s heartfelt style that does not compromise on the storytelling. Hirani’s craft is such that he instead uses it as a trigger for his narration.
Sushant Singh Rajput played Sarfaraz, a Pakistani boy who falls in love with Jaggu, an Indian girl. However, the two are estranged when Sarfaraz doesn’t show up at their wedding and leaves her heartbroken. Albeit a small appearance, Sushant could win hearts with his sincerity in the role. Most characters he played always spoke from their hearts – the purest of places according to their humanity.
Shuddh Desi Romance (2013)
‘Shudh Desi Romance’ was another new-age film having a new perspective on love and relationships. It took us to the world of small towns and the mechanics of romances there. To complete the ritual, the makers cast new comers in all the three roles. Shuddh Desi Romance is, in a way, a rom-com that completely reinvents the Bollywood formula. Despite its aggressive non-formulaic approach, it has characters who refuse to conform.
The film nonetheless has its hiccups, but it is a captivating experience. Sushant does an excellent job of emoting the frustrations and ambitions of his character. More often than not, the glamor of the spectacular drowns the aching regularity of reality. Instead of making him a cinematic product, Sushant churns his life learnings and observations into a tangibly real outcome as living and breathing as the actor himself.
Kedarnath (2018)
‘Kedarnath’ became famous for all the wrong reasons when it was first released. It was not portrayed as a heartfelt love story about two people united by fate but as a manipulative and insulting propaganda film made to hurt the sentiments of one particular religion. If ‘Kedarnath’ had not been embroiled in that controversy, Sushant’s performance might have been touted as one of the year’s best. It captures the pan-Indian struggle couples with two different social, and religious backgrounds go through when they have to take approval from their families.
Sushant is cast against Sara Ali Khan, who manages to leave a good impression. The film also marks the devastating rains and floods that struck Uttarakhand in 2013 and left everything to ruin. The tragedy that unfolds in ‘Kedarnath’ is set against the backdrop of the disaster, mimicking how the two individuals feel when trying to love each other.
Dil Bechara (2020)
Sushant’s final screen appearance was an emotional affair for audiences. The entire atmosphere around it was that of sadness. Yet, love for the film poured in from all corners of the world. It became one of the most-watched films in streaming history, breaking multiple records. It is based on John Green’s 2012 novel ‘The Fault in Our Stars.’ The novel was previously adapted into a feature film as well. Sushant is cast opposite Sanjana Sanghi. They play Manny and Kizzie, respectively, wherein the latter suffers from a terminal disease and meets the firmer. Manny has a great spirit for life despite suffering from a similar illness.
The film has a beautiful message of living life to its fullest. Manny’s character became an instant heartthrob. Sushant was incredible in bringing out Manny’s tenderness and adventurous worm. This performance shows how significant a loss his demise is for the film industry.
We are One Less a Good Actor in Bollywood Today
So these were Sushant Singh Rajput’s must-watch movies from his cinema journey. Pretty sure he would have touched heights of stardom in no time if we were alive with us today. But his charisma, his quirkiness, and his total being will live forever through his movies every time we rewatch them.
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