The ‘Silver screen’ has an uncanny pull on Indian population. And the major interest lies not only on the cinematic subjects or characters but on the men and women, portraying those characters. Behind the scene stories and green-room gossips, never fail to hit our ocular and auditory senses.
Gossips become more sought after when they talk about shocking celebrity deaths. In fact, nothing makes death more dramatic than a mysterious demise of a Bollywood star.
Divya Bharti
Died on: April 5, 1993
Age: 19
It is truly difficult to say which one was more heartbreaking, her untimely death or her early marriage with producer Sajid Nadiadwala in 1992. She was too spirited to die at the age of only 19. But it happened when she fell from her husband’s 5-storey apartment in Versova, Mumbai. People smelt rat, no doubt and even suspected unholy nexus between the heroine and Mumbai underworld. Police failed to give any direction to the investigation and closed the case after 5 years of her death in 1998. It’s a real mystery till date.
Parveen Babi
Died on: January 20, 2005
Age: 56
Nothing can be more distressing than the last few years of this undoubtedly beautiful and talented actress. She used to live alone in her Mumbai residence and was suffering from psychological disorder. Her residential society intimated police when they observed 3 days of uncollected milk bottles and newspapers at her door step. Police broke the door open. But it was too late. She was no more. It is still not clear whether it was a natural death or suicide.
Nalini Jaywant
Died on: December 24, 2010
Age: 84
This beautiful actress of yesteryear, portrayed lead roles in too many hit cinemas like Samadhi, Sangram, Saloni, Naaz, Munimji and Kaala Pani. She is also the first cousin to another popular actress Shobhna Samarth. Her death was not that untimely as she was 84 years old. But due to reclusive living during the last few years of her life, she died unattended. Her close neighbors and relatives had no air about the incidence. Someone, claiming to be her distant relative, took her body away.
Kunal Singh
Died on: February 7, 2008
Age: 31
Do you remember the chocolate hero with boyish look opposite Sonali Bendra in the movie ‘Dil Hi Dil Mein’? That was Kunal Singh. He was never a celebrity in that sense but a one-film wonder. He even started working as an assistant editor and producer in the later stage of his career. But ultimately put an end to his life, hanging from the ceiling fan in his Mumbai residence. His father accused of a foul play but police found no serious evidence. Probably, failed stardom played the spoilsport in this Karate black-belt owner’s life, pretty untimely.
Priya Rajvansh
Died on: March 27, 2000
Age: 63
Don’t presume that property disputes take lives only in remote Indian villages and on silver screens. This extremely talented and beautiful actress was also a prey to the tussle on dispute over inheritance of her husband’s (Chetan Anand) property. Accused were no other than her husband’s sons from his first marriage. She was murdered in her husband’s Ruia Park bungalow in Mumbai. Truth was revealed later in police investigation and the accused were sentenced with life imprisonment.
Nafisa Joseph
Died on: July 29, 2004
Age: 25
She was a model first and then joined MTV as a video jockey. She even acted in the television adaptation of Charlie’s Angels, ‘C.A.T.S’. But unfortunately she decided to draw an end to her life and hanged herself in her Mumbai residence. Her parents accused her fiancé, Gautam Khanduja, for abetting the death. Parents claimed that Nafisa was too disturbed as her fiancé called off their marriage all of a sudden.
Guru Dutt
Died on: October 10, 1964
Age: 39
He undoubtedly belongs to the league of extraordinary Indian film directors and actors. In fact, CNN in 2010 included his name in the list of top 25 Asian film actors. But such a superlative talent died of deadly mix of alcohol and sleeping pills. He was suffering from sleep disorder and used to take sleeping pills regularly. But on the day of his death, he was drunk and accidentally took overdose of pills. That caused immediate death. However, many of his fans still believe his was a suicidal death.
Geeta Dutt
Died on: July 20, 1972
Age: 41
She was probably the first Indian playback singer who drew more public attention than any other on-screen heroine of her time. This was partly due to her mesmerizing voice and partly for her well-publicized romance and marriage with Guru Dutt. But after the demise of her husband, she suffered steep financial and mental disturbance and indulged herself in heavy boozing. This led her to cirrhosis of liver, causing death.
Silk Smitha
Died on: September 23, 1996
Age: 36
She was more famous for her skin show than her acting skills and was immediately typecasted for vamp characters. SilkSmitha definitely needs no introduction to today’s young generation after Vidya Balan’s successful portrayal in the biopic based on her life. But excessive alcohol abuse and too much of exposure, spelt doom for her career. She was found dead in her Chennai residence. Many people suspect that Silk committed suicide.
Kuljeet Randhawa
Died on: February 8, 2006
Age: 30
She was a promising actor and successful model. But that success ultimately took the toll on her life. Unable to handle the excessive work pressure, she took her life hanging herself in her Juhu residence. She left a suicide note too which confirms the motive behind the suicide.
