From 'perfect villain' to 'most desirable': Rhea's makeover by Times

Mumbai: Rhea Chakraborty, the Bollywood actress who was a victim of intensive media trials after the suicide of Sushant Singh Rajput, once again making the headlines as the winner of the 'Times 50 Most Desirable Women 2020' list.

Soon after Times Group named Rhea, several social media users pointed out the hypocrisy of a media house that had aired maximum stories on Rhea's alleged integral role in the death of Sushant, and linking her with a 'drug racket'. Many expressed doubts whether the Times were in a damage control mode.

Apparently, the list, published in the Times of India, is based on results of an online poll and an internal jury, which features women under 40 across various fields who have "made a mark in the last one year and won hearts."

A press release by Times group announcing Rhea as the 'most desirable' read: "In the last year, Rhea was one of the most-talked-about people - but not for a reason she would've ever imagined for. She found herself cast in a terrifying role off-screen - one that she never asked for, and one that was forcibly thrust upon her with the sudden death of Sushant Singh Rajput. And overnight, her life changed forever. Before she could even grieve, she was stuck in a circus with no ringmaster, caught in a tussle between multiple players. However, she retained her dignity amidst a barrage of insinuation and abuse. With her strength, resilience and restraint - and refusal to sling back the mud or respond in kind - she rose above it."

The news, however, has got mixed responses. While many took this as an opportunity to call out the double standard of the Times group, who had earlier been part of the media mob witch-hunting the actress, others saw this as a 'damage control' exercise.

Interestingly, the late actor Sushant Singh Rajput has topped the Times 50 Most Desirable Men 2020 list.