Actor Kushal Punjabi, who appeared in films such as Kaal and Lakshya as well as the reality show Fear Factor, was found hanging in his Bandra apartment in the early hours of Friday, police said. He was 42.
Punjabi, whose body was found by his parents around 2 am, left behind a suicide note in which he said nobody should be held responsible for his death, a police official said. His parents went to his home in Alstic Building on St Andrews Road after he did not pick up his phone, officials said.
“He was found dead by his parents around 2 am on Friday. His parents reached his building after he did not pick up their calls. He left a one-and-a-half page suicide note…” senior police inspector from Bandra police station Vijay Lakshmi Hiremath said.
The note said that all his property should be divided between his parents, son and sisters, he said.
On the basis of primary information, an Accidental Death Report (ADR) has been registered in the Bandra police station, officials said. Punjabi’s close friend, actor Karanvir Bohra, first broke the news about Punjabi’s death on social media.
“Your demise has shocked the hell out of me. I’m still in denial @itsme_kushalpunjabi I know you are in a happier place, but this is unfathomable. The way you lead your life really inspired me in more ways than one…. But what was I to know,” Bohra wrote on Instagram.
Punjabi started his career as a dancer and model. He appeared in several music videos such as Pehla Nasha (remix) and DJ Aqeel’s Kehdoon Tumhen recreation. He also participated in Gladrags Manhunt Contest in the year 2000. His film career started with 1996’s anthology feature Bomgay, which also featured Rahul Bose with whom he later starred in Kaizad Gustad’s 1998 movie Bombay Boys.
Punjabi followed it up with Akshay Kumar and Priyanka Chopra-starrer Andaz and murder mystery Sssshhh… In Farhan Akhtar’s Lakshya, he portrayed the fiancee of Priety Zinta’s character Romila Dutta.
The actor shared screen space with the likes of John Abraham, Ajay Devgn and Vivek Oberoi in Karan Johar and Shah Rukh Khan’s joint production Kaal, which released in 2005. Punjabi had married Audrey Dolhen in November 2015, and they share a son, Kian. (PTI)
