The sudden demise of Sushant Singh Rajput left the entertainment industry shocked and heartbroken. While several people remembered the actor for his talent and promising career, those who had worked closely with him also carried personal memories and unfinished conversations. In an exclusive conversation, television producer Nivedita Basu opened up about her association with Sushant, recalling their days at Balaji and the regret she continues to feel over not accepting his invitations to meet.
Speaking about how she learnt about his demise and her immediate reaction, Nivedita revealed that her first emotion was guilt. She explained that the incident made her realise how often people postpone meetings, assuming they will always have another opportunity to catch up.
Sharing the reason behind this feeling, she recalled that Sushant had invited her to a couple of house parties, including one where they were swimming, but she never managed to attend. She admitted that she wished she had made time to meet him.
Nivedita also remembered how frequently they used to meet during their television days. Once their respective shoots wrapped up, they would often get together for house parties around midnight or 1 am. They were young, in their twenties, and enjoyed spending time together. However, things gradually changed when Sushant moved towards films. Their schedules became busier, he shifted to Bandra, and their regular meetings became less frequent.
Nivedita Basu Recalls Sushant Singh Rajput’s Promising Career
Talking about her reaction when she heard the news of his demise, Nivedita said she remained in shock for quite some time. She found it difficult to believe what had happened, especially because she felt Sushant had such a bright future ahead of him.
She remembered seeing him reach new heights in his career, featuring on magazine covers and working with leading actors, filmmakers and production houses. She felt that he was just beginning to explore his potential and had so much more to achieve.
Describing the loss, she shared that it felt as though someone had clipped his wings just when he had started to fly. For her, Sushant was young, talented and full of promise, which made his untimely demise even more heartbreaking.
From Kis Desh Mein Hai Meraa Dil to Pavitra Rishta: Nivedita Remembers Their Balaji Days
Nivedita also looked back at her long association with Sushant, revealing that they had known each other for years through Balaji Telefilms. She recalled his early television journey, including Kis Desh Mein Hai Meraa Dil, where he played Harshad Chopda’s character’s brother, followed by his popular stint in Pavitra Rishta in 2009.
She remembered how their professional journeys eventually began moving in different directions, with Sushant exploring opportunities beyond television. Recalling one particular incident from his early career, Nivedita shared that she was dropping him off after they had been at WTF when he told her that he wanted to meet her and Shanu.
At that time, Sushant was exploring opportunities with UTV and Yash Raj Films, and they also discussed his career prospects. Nivedita recalled how he was navigating an important phase of his professional journey, with PK also being part of the conversation around that period.
She feels that she played a small part in his early journey and remembers him as someone who handled professional situations with maturity.
Nivedita further recalled advising him that waiting too long for opportunities was not always beneficial, as excessive waiting might not necessarily take someone forward. She also praised the way he handled the situation between the production houses, saying that it could have turned into a conflict, but Sushant managed things gracefully.
Looking back at their association, Nivedita’s memories are filled with both fondness and regret. From late-night house parties during their television days to conversations about his early film career, she remembers a young Sushant who was ambitious and excited about the opportunities ahead.
His passing also left her with an important realisation: meetings and conversations should not always be postponed for another day. Sometimes, making time for people when the opportunity comes is more important than we realise.
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