The loss of actors like Marilyn Monroe and Robin Williams brings to light the rampant issue of depression in Hollywood. And believe it or not, some Bollywood stars have also suffered similarly.
In extreme cases, depression has led famous Bollywood actors to commit suicide too.
Bollywood has a number of brilliant lights that went out with depression. Most people only look at suicide as the cause of death. They often brush aside issues related to mental health and depression.
Here are some of those Bollywood actors and actresses that committed suicide due to mental health struggles.
1. Jiah Khan
The actress had a long battle with depression that ended with her committing suicide on June, 3, 2013. The actress hung herself from a ceiling fan at her family home in Juhu, Mumbai. This incident happened when Jiah’s mother Rabiya, and sister Kavita, were not at home.
The actress left a six page suicide note. However, authorities suspected that her then boyfriend Sooraj Pancholi may have been connected to her murder.
2. Silk Smitha
On the 23rd of September back in 1996, Smitha reached out to a friend, dancer Anuradha. Despite the heart to heart, the actress was found dead hours later in her Chennai home.
Some believe it was depression that killed her. Others say that the actress couldn’t deal with all the debt from her failed production ventures.
3. Divya Bharti
On April 5 1993, Bharti fell to her death from the balcony of her fifth-floor apartment in Tulsi Buildings, Versova, Andheri West (Mumbai). She was immediately rushed to a hospital.
Despite the efforts of the doctors, Bharti died in the Cooper Hospital. She died of severe head trauma and internal bleeding but to this day many believe it was suicide. The actress had attempted to take her own life before.
4. Guru Dutt
Guru Dutt’s battle against depression ended on October, 10, 1964. He died on his bed in his rented apartment on Pedder Road, Bombay.
The actor had been mixing alcohol with sleeping pills and died in his sleep. He previously had two unsuccessful suicide attempts.
5. Parveen Bobby
This actress’s death is debated to be a suicide but many people consider it an accident. Parveen is believed to have starved to death on January, 22, 2005. She had gangrene on her left foot due to diabetes. There was also some alcohol in her system.
There were paintings, clothes, medicines and old newspapers spilled across the floor near her bed. She had been dead for up to 72 hours by the time the police found her.
6. Manmohan Desai
Manmohan Desai fell from the balcony of his home in Gurgaon on 1 March 1994. When the rail he was leaning on collapsed, he fell to his death.
It is rumored to be a suicide but this has not been confirmed to date.
