Bollywood stars joined family members for the funeral yesterday of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, whose death aged 34 has sent shock waves through the Indian film industry and rekindled a national debate about mental health.
Rajput was found dead on Sunday in his apartment in Bandra, Mumbai with police saying he took his own life.
A star of hits on the big and small screen, Rajput died just days after the shock death of his former manager, Disha Salian.
Those attending the funeral included Shraddha Kapoor, who starred with Rajput in his last movie release, Chhichhore, which dealt with societal pressure and mental health.
Others, including actress Kriti Sanon and producer Ekta Kapoor, joined Rajput’s family in heavy monsoon rain to pay their last respects as his body was cremated.
Owing to social distancing regulations amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, police allowed only 20 people to gather near the pyre.
For the same reason, all those who attended the funeral arrived wearing masks.
Police yesterday launched an investigation into the actor’s death.
The autopsy report was received yesterday.
“The postmortem report has cited asphyxia as the cause of death,” Deputy Commissioner of Police Abhishek Trimukhe said, as police have tentatively ruled out a foul play.
The police have also questioned Rajput’s friends Rhea Chakravarty and Mahesh Shetty, and some more people are likely to be questioned, sources said.
“As we are all deeply pained and shocked, so is Mahesh Shetty. He has lost a brother, a very dear friend and is still coming to terms with the shock and reality and is completely heartbroken. We, his team, request the media and all of you, on his behalf, to please give him some privacy and let him grieve for his loss,” Shetty’s team said in a social media post.
As part of the probe, separate teams from the Bandra police station, the crime branch and the forensic department visited Rajput’s apartment.
Earlier in the morning, Rajput’s family arrived from Patna, visited his home and later claimed his body.
The young actor’s death has sparked emotional discussion on social media about mental health, with stars including Deepika Padukone and Anushka Sharma posting messages about the importance of seeking help.
Padukone, who has previously shared her struggle with depression, tweeted with the hashtag #YouAreNotAlone.
“As a person who has had lived experience with mental illness, I cannot stress enough about the importance of reaching out,” tweeted Padukone.
“Talk. Communicate. Express. Seek help. Remember, you are not alone. We are in this together. And most importantly, there is hope.” 
Sharma, the actress wife of national cricket team captain Virat Kohli, also tweeted condolences.
She too had previously opened up about struggling with anxiety.
“Sushant, you were too young and brilliant to have gone so soon. I’m so sad and upset knowing that we lived in an environment that could not help you through any troubles you may have had.”
While mental health issues are estimated to affect 150mn Indians, less than a fifth – 30mn – are seeking care of one form or another, experts said, adding suicide is the leading cause of death for Indians in the 15 to 39 age group.
Born in Bihar, Rajput quit engineering studies to pursue a career in acting and dance.
He got his big break in 2013 with Kai Po Che, a film about cricket, love, and politics that won acclaim at the Berlin film festival.
He was lauded for his portrayal of cricket hero Mahendra Singh Dhoni in the 2016 hit M S Dhoni: The Untold Story.
He had spoken about the emotional rollercoaster he experienced while filming the movie, which also showed the heartbreak suffered by the ex-skipper when his former girlfriend died.