Sushant Singh Rajput Carried A Telescope To Chambal, Showed Co-Stars The Moon

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Sushant Singh Rajput's co-stars recalled his love for astronomy—carrying a telescope to sets, showing them stars, and sharing celestial conversations.
There are some people who live life not just to exist, but to explore, to learn, and to love—quietly and with intensity. Sushant Singh Rajput was one such soul. More than just an actor, he was a seeker—of knowledge, of meaning, of wonder. While the world came to know him through the glowing screen, portraying characters that etched themselves into cinematic memory, those closest to him knew him as someone who was always reaching for the stars—literally and metaphorically.
Rising to fame with his television debut in Pavitra Rishta, Sushant quickly transitioned to films, delivering unforgettable performances in Kai Po Che, MS Dhoni: The Untold Story, Sonchiriya, and Chhichhore. But beyond the accolades and blockbuster success, there existed a deeply curious man with a mind that refused to settle for the ordinary. Few may know that Sushant ranked 7th in the highly competitive AIEEE exam in 2003 and was pursuing mechanical engineering at Delhi College of Engineering before the arts claimed his heart. But engineering, as he once said in an interview, was never truly his calling.
'Engineering wasn't my choice. I wanted to be an astronaut, and later, an Air Force pilot. I remember tearing up my Top Gun poster when my parents told me that was not going to happen," he had confessed. That moment, steeped in teenage rebellion and crushed dreams, would mark the beginning of a life that danced between stardom and science, storytelling and stargazing.
Before he became a household name, Sushant began his journey in entertainment as a background dancer. In a blink-and-miss moment in Dhoom 2, he can be spotted grooving behind Hrithik Roshan. That passion and perseverance took him places, but it never dimmed his love for the cosmos.
Sushant's love for astronomy was no secret. He owned a powerful telescope and often spoke about black holes, quantum physics, and distant galaxies. Friends and co-stars often recalled evenings spent at his home, where he would excitedly introduce them to celestial wonders. Shraddha Kapoor, his Chhichhore co-star, remembered being moved to tears after he showed her the moon through his telescope. 'I was so speechless that I could see its exquisite beauty up close," she wrote after his passing. 'He saw things through a kaleidoscopic lens."
That same passion spilled into his conversations and relationships. Jacqueline Fernandez once called him a 'genius," saying he would constantly recommend books and authors, often peppering their chats with scientific curiosity. Manoj Bajpayee, who worked with him on Sonchiriya, shared that Sushant's mind was always teeming with questions—about space, philosophy, filmmaking, and existence itself. 'He was always curious to learn about everything—the unknown, space, about quantum physics, about acting, about filmmaking," Manoj told IANS.
To those who worked closely with him, he was more than a co-actor. He was an inspiration, a puzzle, a teacher, and a dreamer. Sara Ali Khan, who starred opposite him in Kedarnath, penned a heartfelt tribute on the film's fourth anniversary. 'I would do anything to go back to August 2017, learn so much from Sushant about music, films, books, life, acting, stars, and the sky… He is up there right by his favourite moon, shining like the bright star he always was and always will be."
Bhumi Pednekar, his Sonchiriya co-star, shared how he had promised to show her the stars—something she had brushed off at first as a cheesy line. But Sushant, true to form, brought out his telescope on set and introduced her to the cosmos: Saturn, Jupiter, and the red-tinted moon. 'You took us to the moon and back," she wrote. 'You genius will live on with all the work you have done, and through that telescope I will spot you again."
Even veteran actor Ashutosh Rana recalled being awestruck when Sushant carried a telescope to the rugged landscapes of Chambal during the filming of Sonchiriya. It wasn't for show—it was simply who he was. Whether on a film set or in the stillness of a forest, he carried his stars with him.
Sushant Singh Rajput passed away on June 14, 2020. But the stories he left behind—of his brilliance, kindness, and insatiable thirst for knowledge—continue to orbit our collective memory. His was a mind that found joy in both the smallest things and the vastest mysteries. He reminded us that it's okay to dream wildly, to be different, to question, and to chase things bigger than ourselves.
First Published:
June 14, 2025, 19:57 IST