The news of actor Kushal Punjabi’s suicide has left his friends in the industry shocked
Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; December 28, 2019)

Most of Kushal Punjabi’s industry friends remember him as a fighter. Yes, he’s had a fair share of struggles and setbacks in his personal and professional life, but everyone who knew him closely, believed that he was the kind of man who would fight back and not give up. So, the news of his suicide on Thursday night came as a shock to them. What could have driven the 42-year-old actor to take such an extreme step?

We spoke to his close friend, actor Chetan Hansraj, who revealed, “Kushal had hit a low. He was worried about lack of work, and he was also going through a separation from his wife.” Kushal had married Audrey Dolhen, a French national, in November 2015, in Goa, and they have a three-year-old son, Kian. However, Audrey moved to Shanghai with Kian after they started having problems in their marriage. They were even contemplating divorce in the last few months.

Talking about Kushal’s recent state of mind, Chetan said, “I would often tell Kushal not to feel demoralised about work, as such phases are common in this industry. I always told him to get his life together, but little did I know that he would end it. He was with his son and had returned to India only recently.”

Chetan said, “He messaged me a couple of days back and said that we should catch up. However, a day ago, when his parents tried to reach him, their calls went unanswered. Worried, they called me, and I reached his place, but it was too late by then. I am still in a state of shock and can’t come to terms with the fact that he is not with us anymore. He was very strong and full of life.”

Kushal Punjabi, who started his career with the TV show, A Mouthful Of Sky (1995), went on to do films like Lakshya (2004), Kaal (2005) Salaam-E-Ishq: A Tribute To Love (2007) and Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal (2007). In recent years, he went back to television and was a part of shows like Zindagi Wins, Kya Haal Mister Panchaal and Sajan Re Phir Jhooth Mat Bolo. Earlier this year, he made a cameo appearance in Guddan: Tumse Na Ho Payega, and was last seen in Ishq Mein Marjaavaan.

Actor couple Shilpa Saklani and Apurva Agnihotri, who have been close to Kushal for many years now, are shaken. Shilpa said, “Till day before yesterday, we were planning to head out of Mumbai for New Year’s. Kushal was our hero. If there are 10 people standing in a frame and if I were asked to point out to a person who could die like this, I would never take Kushal’s name. He was so strong and rock solid. Professionally, he had many things to look forward to in 2020. So, Apurva and I don’t think that he ended his life because of professional lows. On the personal front, too, I know that his wife Audrey and he had planned the best things for their son. I still can’t understand why he did this. He was so brave, but then, you don’t know what happens in that particular moment…”

Rapper Baba Sehgal, who knew Kushal Punjabi for many years and had also worked with him in a couple of TV shows, regrets not being in touch with him over the past few months. “When they say you should meet your friends and keep in touch, they don’t say it just like that. You never know what they are going through. I really don’t know what made Kushal take such a drastic step. I wish he and I were in touch over the past few days.”

Actor Karanvir Bohra, another close friend of Kushal, told us, “I have known him for 16 years and the Kushal I knew was a strong man, both mentally and physically, I could never imagine he would do something like this. He was truly an inspiration for me. He would always keep honing his skills. If he was not acting, he would dance, direct, write. He was such an amazing and doting father. This also makes me think about the lives we all lead on social media. How happy are you really? Or are you leading a second life on social media? In Kushal’s case, what he posted on social media wasn’t a facade, that was real. But we could never imagine that he would do something as drastic as this. I am really shaken up.”

Actress Narayani Shastri shared, “Kushal wasn’t stressed about his work. He loved his profession and was expanding his horizons by getting into writing and direction as well. His reasons were more personal and I would not like to discuss that. Every person reacts to a situation differently, we can’t judge anything.”

Actor Karan Patel said, “In my social media post, I had written, ‘The happiest faces hide the most saddened hearts.’ I wrote that because I have known Kushal for a long time and he was a great guy. Forget being negative, he never had even a frown on his face. He was also one of the best athletes I know. He was positive, cheerful and full of life. Seeing his zest for life, I never thought that he would bid his final goodbye like this.”

— With inputs from Tanvi Trivedi

V Narayan (THE TIMES OF INDIA; December 28, 2019)

Mumbai: Actor Kushal Punjabi, 37, who appeared in films such as ‘Kaal’ and ‘Lakshya’ as well as the television reality show ‘Fear Factor’, was found dead in his flat at Pali Hill in Bandra (west) late on Thursday.

His parents and friends came to his flat in Alsid Apartment as he was not answering his phone at around 11.30-pm and found him hanging from a ceiling fan. Police have recovered a one-and-a-half page suicide note in which Punjabi said no one should be held responsible for his action and requested that his property be divided among his parents, sister and his three-year-old son.

Punjabi had been contemplating divorce and was depressed, the police have learnt from his family and friends. “Punjabi’s wife Audrey Dolhen, a foreign national, is employed in Shanghai and wanted him to relocate. But he was of the view that they should move to a place where he could pursue his acting career,” a police officer told TOI. Punjabi’s parents repeatedly tried to contact him since 2 pm on Thursday.

“When Punjabi did not respond despite their repeated calls on Thursday, his parents contacted his friends and entered his flat using a duplicate key. They found him hanging and took him to hospital and informed the police. A suicide note was found in which the actor held no one responsible,” said DCP (zone IX) Paramjit Singh Dahiya.

Punjabi started his career as a dancer and model, and appeared in several music videos like ‘Pehla Nasha (remix)’ and DJ Aqeel’s ‘Kehdoon Tumhain’ recreation. He debuted as a TV actor with ‘A Mouthful Of Sky’ and over the years, Punjabi featured in popular shows like ‘Kkusum’, ‘Dekho Magar Pyaar Se’, and ‘Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat’. He moved on to films in 1996 and performed alongside stars like Akshay Kumar and Priyanka Chopra in ‘Andaaz’, and with Hrithik Roshan and Preity Zinta in ‘Lakshya’.

Senior inspector Vijaylaxmi Hiremath said Punjabi stayed alone in the rented flat as his wife lives and works in Shanghai. Their three-year-old son Kian lives with her. She has been informed about the incident, and a case of suicide has been registered. Punjabi’s body has been kept at Cooper Hospital and his wife and son are expected to reach by Thursday night.

In his suicide note, Punjabi wrote that “no one should be held responsible for this extreme step” and that 50% of his property and investments should be given to his son and the other 50% to his parents and sister. He asked that they should share equally his flat in Kandivli, an imported bike, and the Rs 12 lakh he has invested through his CA. The car he used was left to his mother in whose name it was registered.

Residents of Alsid declined to comment, but his close friend Chetan Hansraj, himself an actor, told TOI: “Kushal was a fighter but what he has done has left us all in shock. There are multiple reasons—family issues and work related—for him to undergo depression. I had known him for the last 20 years and he was a very cheerful person. He had been staying alone at the rented flat in Bandra for almost a year and was without work, which could be one of the reasons that took a toll on him. His wife moved to Shanghai six months ago because of the nature of her work.” The last rites will be performed on Saturday, he added.

Another actor-friend Karanvir Bohra said Punjabi’s parents are devastated. “They were saying that he was the backbone of the family. He was the one who inspired everyone and was the positive guy in the family,” he said online.

Clockwise from above: Anita Hassanandani, Surbhi Jyoti, Pearl V Puri, Chetan Hansraj, Rakshanda Khan

Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 21, 2018)

After two popular seasons, Naagin 3, on Colors, has found its cast members. With the original Naagin, Mouni Roy, having moved to films, Surbhi Jyoti has replaced her in the story. Karishma Tanna and Anita Hassanandani are the other two Naagins on the show along with her.

Pearl V Puri, who is paired with Surbhi is suave in stylish suits. Arjun Bijlani played the male lead in season one while Karanveer Bohra stepped into his shoes in season two. “Pearl was chosen due to the popularity of his previous show Naagarjuna — Ek Yoddha,” informs a source close to the development, adding that Rakshanda Khan and Chetan Hansraj are returning to the small screen after a hiatus. “They will be seen as a couple on the show which is expected to go on air by June. Shooting kicked off earlier this month, and Karishma and Anita shot a video on Wednesday.”

The first season of Naagin aired in 2015 and season two, the following year with actors Adaa Khan and Sudha Chandran being part of both seasons.

Upala KBR (DNA; September 1, 2015)

Salman Khan has been known to take people under his wing. And his Hero villain Chetan Hansraj is no exception. In fact, Chetan has been writing a sci-fi thriller for a year-and-a-half and Salman didn’t just encourage him to write a film script, but also gave him writing tips!

Chetan tells us, “I am writing a sci-fi film. In 2013, I had a one-liner in my head, which I told Bhai about, at a party. He loved it, told me it’s a fabulous concept, and asked me to work on it. That’s what got me inspired to go ahead and write it. The script is ready and now I’m speaking to producers.”

Chetan adds that he’d like to direct it too. “It’s something I am really passionate about and the vision in my head needs to come on screen. I will need to have an ensemble cast of Indians and people from abroad as the look of the cast has to be perfect.”

Upala KBR (DNA; August 25, 2015)


Says Chetan, “Director Nikhil Advani’s office called and they told me that they wanted me to play Changezi. It’s a hardcore, out-and-out negative role. Sooraj and I have some amazing fight sequences! Ravi Anna, the fight director and Nikhil wanted the fights to look very raw and realistic, so we have hand-to-hand combat and fights with anything and everything — from dumb bells to bottles. The fight scenes were so exhausting that both Sooraj and I would be drained after doing them. My look in the film is very cool — I sport long hair, wear kajal and Pathani suits.”

Chetan is all praise for Sooraj. “He has a great physique. His attitude, rawness and behaviour has all the hallmarks of a great actor. I never felt that this was his first film.”

He has been friend with Salman since their Bodyguard days. “Bhai recently told me he was really happy with my performance and he’s not someone who’s easily impressed. That gave me a lot of confidence. He has always been very encouraging and supportive of me.”