Actor Sooraj Pancholi has opened up about the deep emotional wounds left behind after years of being at the center of the tragic and controversial Jiah Khan suicide case. For over a decade, Sooraj battled relentless public scrutiny, harsh media narratives, and the weight of being judged by millions — all of which he now admits shattered his mental and emotional well-being.
In a recent heartfelt interview, the Hero actor spoke candidly about the inner turmoil he endured throughout the prolonged legal battle, which began after the untimely death of actress Jiah Khan in 2013. Though he was acquitted of all charges in 2023, Sooraj says the damage inflicted during those ten years still lingers.
“I spent years feeling like a ghost in my own life,” Sooraj confessed. “Not because I was guilty, but because the world had already made up its mind about me. I felt so much shame — not because of what I had done, but because of what people thought I had done.”
He admitted that the harshest part of the ordeal wasn’t just the courtroom or the headlines — it was how it affected his loved ones. “There were days when I couldn’t even meet my parents’ eyes. It hurt to see them hurting. I know they were trying to be strong for me, but I saw their fear, their worry, and their silent heartbreak.”
Sooraj recalled the suffocating isolation that crept in over the years. “Every time I stepped into a room, I felt eyes following me. People didn’t even have to say anything — the judgment was in their gaze. I stopped going out, I withdrew from everything. I didn’t feel human anymore — just a headline, a hashtag, a target.”
He especially recalled how the trolling on social media and in public discourse chipped away at his confidence and sense of self. “It was as if I didn’t deserve to exist peacefully. People hurled accusations, mocked me, and reduced my identity to a single tragedy. I couldn’t recognize myself anymore.”
But amid the darkness, the unwavering support of his family — especially his mother, veteran actress Zarina Wahab — became his anchor. “My mother’s strength kept me from falling apart completely. But seeing her suffer because of me was the hardest thing I’ve ever endured. She didn’t deserve that pain.”
Now, with the court having declared him not guilty, Sooraj is trying to piece his life back together. Yet, he is under no illusions that everything will return to normal overnight. “Yes, the verdict gave me relief. But it doesn’t erase the years of pain, the anxiety, the self-doubt. Healing is a slow journey. I still have a long way to go.”
He also expressed compassion for Jiah Khan and her family, acknowledging the tragedy at the heart of it all. “A young life was lost, and that’s something that should never be forgotten. I have never taken that lightly. But I always knew the truth, and I’m grateful it has finally come to light.”
Sooraj hopes that his story serves as a wake-up call to society — especially in the digital age where public opinion often turns into a court of its own. “We’ve normalized tearing people apart online without thinking twice. But we never know the full story. Words can destroy. Silence can damage. We must be more mindful.”
Looking ahead, the actor is gradually returning to work and rebuilding his sense of identity outside the shadow of the case. “I want to move forward, not as the boy tied to a tragedy, but as someone who endured and is learning to live again. My focus is on healing, growing, and proving myself on my own terms.”
With this brave and vulnerable revelation, Sooraj Pancholi steps into a new phase of life — one rooted in reflection, strength, and the hope of finding peace beyond the noise.
