Actress Rhea Chakraborty recently opened up about her challenging time in jail following her arrest in a drug-related case after the death of Sushant Singh Rajput. In a candid conversation on Karishma Mehta’s podcast, Rhea described her days behind bars as some of the toughest moments of her life. She shared how each day felt like a year, and the experience was far from anything she could have ever imagined.
Life in Jail: A Different World Altogether
Rhea Chakraborty described jail as a world unlike any other—a place where the usual societal structures and identities disappear. “Prison is a very different world because there is no society there. Everyone is the same. Everyone is just a number; there are no humans, just a UT (undertrial) number,” she said. The actress explained that jail strips away all layers of individuality, reducing everyone to the bare basics of survival. Days felt endless, and time seemed to move at an excruciatingly slow pace.
The first two weeks were particularly difficult for Rhea. She struggled to adjust to her new reality, battling a sense of disbelief about being in jail. “No one ever believes that they have to go to jail. Once you reach there, it takes a lot of time to accept that this has happened,” Rhea said. She admitted that the darkness and negativity of her surroundings took a toll on her mental health, making her feel trapped in a cycle of negative thoughts.
Finding Light Amidst Darkness: How Rhea Coped
Despite the overwhelming circumstances, Rhea Chakraborty eventually found a way to cope. She began to focus on the women she was surrounded by—many of whom had lost hope and had given up on life. Rhea saw an opportunity to make a positive impact, no matter how small. She started conducting yoga sessions for the women, helping them connect with themselves amidst the chaos. Rhea also gave dance classes, bringing a bit of joy into the bleak atmosphere of the prison.
For the children, Rhea taught poems, turning her time in jail into a period of giving back to those around her. This sense of purpose helped her endure the difficult days and find moments of light in an otherwise dark time. By engaging with the people around her, Rhea not only helped others but also managed to keep her own spirits lifted during one of the toughest phases of her life.
Rhea’s experience in jail served as a reminder of the strength it takes to survive in the harshest of circumstances, and how even in the darkest places, acts of kindness and connection can create a small spark of hope.
