Q: Where did you meet Sushant Singh Rajput for the first time? How well did you know him?

A: Well, for the first time I met Sushant in 2011 when I was co-producing a serial called Saraswati Chandra and he had left Pavitra Rishta at the peak of his career in Television. I wanted to cast him in a serial, so I met him and there we came to know each other closely. We found out that we both were Biharis. Then he told me that he was interested in working in films, that’s why he left Pavitra Rishta so he would not be doing serials anymore. I loved his focus and honesty that, despite coming to such a big production house, he was being very straightforward and then we started getting along. He used to stay in Lokhandwala at the time and we used to meet more often. We used to have mutton and rice together. He was very fond of Jagjit Singh songs and driving.

Q: What was your reaction when you got the news of Sushant’s sudden demise and what did you do after hearing the news?

A: When I heard the news,… I was shocked and shattered. I immediately rushed to the place where his body was kept, believing that his friends, people from the film industry, his directors, producers would be there. But, to my surprise, there was nobody. Nobody from the industry reached the home or hospital. That was one of the worst situations anyone can ever go through, be it his sisters or father. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to introduce ourselves but everybody knew that I was his friend. At the time when nobody from the industry stood up, I was the one who stood by him and supported the family and did all the rituals and the whole media witnessed it.

Q: Have you met Sushant’s family before? Do you have any idea if they knew about his condition?

A: No, I don’t have any idea about that because I have never spoken to them on the issue. The Sushant I knew was never depressed nor did he take drugs. The only thing he loved was cinema and he wanted to do good films.

Q: What’s your remark on the media’s reaction to his death?

A: I believe we are very small people in front of the media. Media can make or break people, and that’s what happened with me and my family. My silence broke my family into pieces. That is the time when I spoke but I spoke only the truth when it was needed, but I don’t think anybody in the media understood me because they only wanted TRPs even if it can destroy someone’s career or family. They stood outside my house for 20 to 30 days just to get my reaction on the false allegations against me. But still I don’t blame them completely because it’s their duty but that is not the way to do it. Journalists are also human beings. They do have family members and loved ones. What if I would have committed suicide, who would be responsible for that?

Q: Did you know Disha Saalian?

A: Yes, it was in 2015 when I was doing this film called Sarabjit and she was working for a company called Image Smith and they were working with Aishwarya Rai and she was handling Aishwarya day to day and that’s why as a manager I knew her.

Q: There are some rumors in the media related to Cooper Hospital since you were in the ambulance. What was the idea behind taking Sushant’s body to Cooper instead of Lilavati?

A: Let me tell you, I was not the only one who was in the ambulance at the time. I reached Sushant’s place when they were taking the body in the ambulance and I didn’t know where they were going. Later, I was informed by the police that they had reached Cooper Hospital. There are many hospitals close to that place but post mortems mostly take place at Cooper Hospital.

Q: You were Sushant’s friend. Were there some issues between Sushant and Sooraj Pancholi? Did they have a fight? Did you ever speak to Sushant regarding this subject?

A: I don’t know about this at all. These are all rumors spread over social media. He was an established actor who worked in many films and knew a lot of people in industry, but seriously I have no idea about his relations with Sooraj Pancholi.

Q. Did you see Sooraj Pancholi at Sushant’s house when the news came of his alleged suicide?

A: I didn’t see him at all. Neither was he at Sushant’s house, nor at hospital nor at funeral.

Q: Do you know Siddharth Pithani?

A: I didn’t know Siddharth Pithani until June 14 when I saw him for the first time at Sushant’s place.

Q: Have you been part of any enquiry or investigation done by Central agencies?

A: Yes, I was called by the CBI and they wanted to know what exactly happened on the June 14 and 15, so I helped them in the best possible way.

Q: There was so much controversy and collapse between Mumbai and Bihar Police. Did they call you for any enquiry?

A: No, neither Mumbai Police nor Bihar Police called me for any
sort of investigation. Apart from the CBI, I wasn’t called for any inquiry.