Sushant Singh Rajput was an exciting, handsome Indian actor best known in the highly successful, heart-warming movie M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story.

His range as an actor was wide – a fan favorite in romantic roles as in Shuddh Desi Romance and he offered a critically acclaimed performance as a detective in the action thriller Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! He went on to star in a reincarnation drama Raabta, a historical drama Sonchiriya, and the action thriller Drive.

At an early age he showed a deep interest in astrophysics and won the National Olympiad in Physics. His family encouraged him in this direction, and he enrolled in the Delhi College of Engineering to become a Mechanical Engineer. At the same time, he was also considering becoming an astronaut and air-force pilot.

But his creative side pushed him to explore the artistry of acting and Bollywood. While at Delhi College of Engineering, Sushant enrolled in dance school. He found the experience liberating, and so in his fourth year he dropped out, moved to Mumbai, worked odd jobs and joined a theatre group.

His star was on the rise and his acting career gained traction first on television and then in film where he became a much-sought-after actor. 

This was an exhilarating time with many film offers and new opportunities coming his way, including being the founder of a non-profit and a co-founder of a technological start-up.

But all was not perfect. Sushant had many struggles with his personal relationships, and he suffered from bipolar disorder and depression. His death from suicide was a tremendous shock to the Indian film industry and to all of his fans.

A great talent – ­ gone far too soon.