Actor Sooraj Pancholi recently opened up about his painful time in jail following his arrest in the Jiah Khan suicide case. In a conversation with Hindi Rush, he shared how, at the age of 21, he was locked up in Arthur Road Jail under extremely harsh conditions.
Sooraj revealed that authorities placed him in the ‘anda cell’, a high-security cell previously used for 26/11 terrorist Ajmal Kasab. He said, “I was sent to Arthur Road Jail and put in the ‘anda cell’. I was in the same cell where they had put Kasab. They treated me like I’d done a bomb blast.”
Slept on Newspapers Without a Pillow
Describing the living conditions, Sooraj said he had no pillow or bed during his 22-day stay. He shared, “I didn’t even have a pillow; I’d sleep on newspapers.” He added that jail officials treated him “terribly, like I’d committed some horrible crime,” and insisted he wasn’t exaggerating.
Over time, he began to understand the trauma he experienced. He said it felt surreal at the time, explaining, “It was only after four or five years that I understood what I’d been through. It felt like a dream when it was happening.” He added that even during the CBI investigation, they kept him in solitary confinement, which he called “difficult.”
CBI Court Cleared Him of Charges in 2023
To recap, Sooraj was arrested in 2013 after Jiah Khan’s family accused him of involvement in her death. He stayed in jail for 22 days before being granted bail. The case dragged on for years, with intense media attention.
Finally, in 2023, a CBI court in Mumbai acquitted him of all charges, ending a long chapter in his life.
“I Agree 1000 Per Cent” That I Was Misunderstood
Speaking to SCREEN, Sooraj admitted that he felt misunderstood throughout the ordeal. He said, “I agree 1000 per cent. The media talking about it without any kind of knowledge of the truth added to it.”
He shared that he has now found peace and accepts that some things are beyond his control. “I am very calm in life now; what has to happen will happen,” he said. He also added, “I just want to do my best as an actor, brother, boyfriend, and friend. I want to give it my all. The rest is up to God and destiny.”
“I Didn’t Run Away… I Took Care of Myself”
Sooraj also expressed pride in standing firm despite public criticism. He said, “I stood up for myself and still chose a path in a field that will keep bashing you, but I will prove everyone wrong, I know I will.”
He added that he didn’t give up, saying, “I am very proud that I didn’t run away from it and fought for it; I took care of myself and overcame it with faith and hope.”
Returns to the Big Screen With Kesari Veer
Now, Sooraj has returned to films with Kesari Veer: Legends of Somnath. In the movie, he plays Veer Hamirji Gohil, a brave warrior who fought the Tughlaq Empire to protect the Somnath Temple.
Alongside him, Suniel Shetty appears as Vegda Ji, a fearless leader committed to protecting Dharma. The film is directed by Prince Dhiman and produced by Kanu Chauhan.