16 Famous Celebrities Who Died Young, Here's The Reason Behind Their Untimely Demise (2024)

Imagine watching your favourite show or a movie! You get so involved in the story, that youmake a connection with the characters.How would you feel if you wake up the next day to the news of your favourite star’s death? Shocking right! Sadly no one can fight death, even your favourite actor or actress. No amount of money or fame can get our loved ones back.

Some of India’s well-known actors and actresses had an untimely death. A few of them died a natural death, whereas others ended up tragically or took their own life. Even after years, their work is acknowledged in Indian cinema, and these beautiful souls are still missed and remembered amongst us. Here are some Indian celebrities, who left the world too soon!

#1. Sushant Singh Rajput

The tragic death of Sushant Singh Rajputshook the nation. On June 14, 2020, the famous Bollywood actor was found hanging fromhis bedroom’s ceiling fan in Bandra, Mumbai. According to his post-mortem report, it is said that the actor had died due to asphyxia. Central Bureau of Investigation and Narcotics Control Bureau were also involved in the case. It is said that Sushant’s girlfriend, the well-known Indian actress, Rhea Chakraborty was involved in the drug case, which was also linked to Sushant’s death. The actor was only 34 when he died. His movies like Kai Po Che, M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story, Kedarnath, Detective Byomkesh Bahkshay! were a few of his box officehit movies. Sushant was last seen in the movie, Dil Bechara released in 2020 after his death.

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#2. Kushal Punjabi

The much-loved television star had committed suicide on December 26, 2019, a few days before New Year. Kushal had starred in a few Bollywood movies like Kaal, Lakshya, and Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal. He had died at the age of 42. According to the police statement, the actor was suffering from depression. It was said that Kushal and his wife were not living together, and his son lived with the mother. The actor missed his child a lot and had also posted a picture with him on his social media handle a few days before his death.

#3. Pratyusha Banerjee

The Indian television actress had gained fame in 2010 from the television show,Balika Vadhu. She hadplayed the role of 'Anandi', which was extremely loved by the audience. Pratyusha had acted in many Hindi TV serials and later had participated in India’s trending reality show,Big Boss Season 7. OnApril 1, 2016, she was found hanging from the ceiling fan of her apartment. It is stated that she had committed suicide due to complications in her relationship with Rahul Raj Singh.

#4. Smita Patil

Smita Patil was the finest actress of her time. She had played her first major role in the movie, Manthan. She had starred in more than 80 movies including, Hindi, Bengali, Kannada, Marathi, and Malayalam films. During her promising acting career, Smita was awarded Padma Shri and had also achieved two National Awards. At the age of 31, she passed away while giving birth to her son, Prateik Babbar. The main cause of her death was childbirth complications.

#5. Jiah Khan

The sensational actress had made her debut in Bollywood in the year 2007. She had starred in the movie,Nishabd opposite Amitabh Bachchan. Apart from this, she had worked in two popular movies, Ghajini and Housefull. The young actress had committed suicide at the age of 25, on June 3, 2013. She was found hanging fromher bedroom’s ceiling fan in her family’s residence in Juhu, Mumbai. The Central Bureau of Investigation was involved in the case as Jiah’s mother held her boyfriend, Sooraj Pancholi accountable for her daughter’s death. In 2018, a court in Mumbai had charged Sooraj Pancholi with abetting Jia’s Suicide. Since then the case has not been settled.

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#6. Rasika Joshi

Rasika Joshi was an incredible actress. She had made us laugh from her hilarious acting in movies,Malamaal Weekly, Dhol and Bhool Bhulaiyaa. She hadalso starred in many other Bollywood movies. Apart from Bollywood, she was a famous name in the Marathi movie industry. Unfortunately, she suffered from Leukemia and had died at the age of 38 in 2011.

#7. Taruni Sachdev

Taruni Sachdev was the face of the brand, 'Rasna', this is how she had acquired her name as the 'Rasna Girl'. Later she had starred with Amitabh Bachchan in the movie,Paa, the movie was a hit, and Taruni becamea famous star artist. Sadly, she had died in a plane crash in Nepal when she was only 14 years old. Her untimely death had left her co-stars in grief.

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#8. Divya Bharti

The utterly beautiful and famous actress had died a mysterious death. When Divya was 19 years old, she had fallen from the balcony of her fifth-floor apartment in Mumbai in 1993. The official cause of her death was due to serious head injury and internal bleeding. Her death was so tragic and unexpected that it had left a lot of questions in people’s minds. At the beginning of her career, she had featured in Telugu Films, and soon after, in 1992, she had made her debutin Bollywood with the movie,Vishwatma. In the same year, she was cast in Shola Aur Shabnam which had turned out to be a hit, and Divya’s career hadreached new heights.

#9. Geeta Bali

The beautiful actress had started her career at the age of 12 in the movie,The Cobbler. In 1946 she had made her debut as the main lead in Badnaami,and by the 1950s, she became a star. Geeta had starred with well-known '50s actors, Raj Kapoor and Prithviraj Kapoor. Movies likeBawre Nain and Anand Math were a big hit in 1950. She had worked in almost 70 movies, till she got infected with smallpox and died in the year 1965.

#10. Guru Dutt

Guru Dutt was an all-rounder. He was a famous Indian actor, director, producer, choreographer, and writer. Hewas a big name in Hindi cinema during his era. He had worked in classic '50s movies like Pyaasa, Kaagaz Ke Phool, Chaudhvin Ka Chand, and Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam. It is reported that in 1964 when Guru Dutt was 39 years old, he had died due to an overdose of sleeping pills, which he had accidentally consumed with alcohol.

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#11. Madhubala

Mumtaz Jehan Dehlavi, popularly known by her screen name, ‘Madhubala’ in Bollywood, was a bright Indian actress. She started acting young at the age of 9, and then there was no looking back. Madhubala had starred in the end number of movies that were blockbusters. Some of her hit movies were Howrah Bridge, Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi, Barsaat Ki Rani, and Mughal-e-Azam,where she hadperformed the role of 'Anarkali'. Her astounding acting had made the movie hit and is still popular among the masses. Unfortunately, Madhubala died at the age of 36 onFebruary 23, 1969. The actual reason for her untimely death is said to be her terminal illness related to lungs and heart.

#12. Meena Kumari

The '60s actress had left the world at the age of 39. She passed away in 1972 due to liver cirrhosis. Meena Kumari was suffering from an extreme alcohol addiction that had severely damaged her liver. Her personal problems had made her an alcoholic. She is popularly known by the name 'The Tragedy Queen of Hindi Cinema'. During her career, she worked in 92 films, most of which were box office hits. Here are a few movies she had starred in, Pakeezah, Mere Apne, Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai, Dil Ek Mandir, and Kaajal.

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#13. Kuldeep Randhawa

Indian model and actress, Kuldeep Randhawa was known for her bold character in shows. She began her career with the show,Hip Hip Hurray. She was also a former Gladrags model and came in youth-centric shows like C.A.T.S, Special Squad, and Kohinoor. On February 8, 2006, she took her life by hanging herself. She had mentioned that she is taking this step as she was unable to handle her life’s pressure.

#14. Nafisa Joseph

Nafisa had won the Femina Miss India Universein1997. She had also been a finalist in Miss Universe 1997 that was held at Miami Beach. She was an Indian model and the VJ for theMTV channel. Nafisa was a stunning model and had starred in trending shows like C.A.T.S and Charlie’s Angles. Unfortunately, she was going through relationship complications and had decided to endher life in 2004, at the age of 26.

#15. Abir Goswami

Famous TVand film actor. Abir was seen in many TV serials like Pyaar Ka Dard Hai Meetha Meetha Pyara Pyara, Woh Rehne Waali Mehlon Ki, CID, Crime Patrol,and many more. He had also starred in Hindi films,Lakshya, Khakee, Ugly and other movies, as a supporting actor. Abir had an untimely death due to cardiac arrest while he was working out on his treadmill. He had died at the age of 38 in the year 2013.

#16. Sanjit Bedi

Sanjit Bedi had stolen the hearts of several Indian girls when he had played the role of 'Dr Omi Joshi' in the TVserial Dill Mill Gayye. He began his career as a model and later had made his place in Indian television. He was also a part of the popular TVshow,Kasautii Zindagi Kay. The actor was suffering from a brain ailment and was in a coma for a few days. Soon after, the actor passed away on June 24, 2015. He was only 38 years old.

It's unbelievable how these actors and actresses made a place in our hearts in such a short time. Their memories will always stay with us.

Cover and Images Courtesy: Instagram

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