Sooraj Pancholi’s first interview after acquittal: What happened to Jiah was really unfortunate, but it was beyond my control – Times of India

Sooraj Pancholi felt like weight had been lifted off his chest after he was acquitted of the charge of abetting the suicide of his girlfriend, Jiah Khan. Calling it a ‘rebirth’, the actor spoke to ETimes about losing 10 precious years of his life, the unfortunate incident involving Jiah and life ahead. Excerpts:
How does it feel on the morning after the acquittal?
Today I’ve woken up feeling like an entirely new person. I’ve woken up feeling not only relieved, but feeling peaceful, which for me is bigger than anything in my life.

I can’t even begin to understand what you have gone through?
Only I know how I’ve tried to stay calm and composed. To get out of my house and face the world …looking people into the eyes. I always though they were judging me constantly.
They probably were, except maybe those close to you?
Yes, I am proud of myself for holding on to my faith in the truth. I continued to fight this on real merit and didn’t battle it by talking rubbish in the media like some others in this case.

Do you see today as a rebirth?
For sure, this is the beginning of my life. I am confident that only good things will come to me now. I am happy that my family is finally at peace.

They must have gone through hell along with you?
I am sorry for the trouble I have caused them. I am sorry I caused them so much pain. To see one’s parents suffer this way is not something anyone would want.

Looking back, do you regret anything?
What happened to Jiah was really unfortunate. But it was beyond my control. She did not need me as much as she needed her family. She needed the love and support of her own immediate family, not her boyfriend. I hardly knew her for five months. I did the best that I could for that short period.

You ordeal is over now?
Yes, the honourable court’s order is out. Every single charge against me has been proven wrong. All their witnesses have been discredited .Every single one of them. The honourable court has used the legal term ‘lack of evidence’ while acquitting me.

That must be very reassuring after what you have been through?
There was not only lack of evidence against me, there was zero evidence. This was a circus created by some people for their own entertainment. And it is sad that this lie took away ten years of my life. Even the letter (the alleged suicide note) for which I was arrested (ten years ago) …it has been proven after ten years in the honourable court that it wasn’t written by Jiah. The handwriting matches with Jiah’s mother’s diary not Jiah’s diary.

It is shocking to hear this?
Yes, this is the sad truth. But now I will try to leave all this behind and move on. It’s time for me give back to my family the time I took away from them. It’s time to stand up and take care of my parents and my sister, do good things in life. I plan to settle down in life. A lot needs to be planned. I never made any plans all these years.

Because life is so unpredictable?
Because my life was the most unpredictable. The course of the law cannot be predicted. So yeah, now is my rebirth. Thank you for being there for me.