A pall of gloom descended on Panwatinagar house in Sonari where 80-year-old woman Jharna Banerjee is unable to console herself. Her grand-daughter, Jamshedpur-born TV actress Pratyusha Banerjee, known for her role of grown-up Anandi in the serial 'Balika Vadhu', allegedly committed suicide Friday afternoon.
Pratyusha allegely hanged herself from a fan at her Kandivali residence but was taken to the Kokilaben Ambani Hospital where she succumbed. The news spread like a fire in the city with relatives and well-wishers swarming to her residence. Her aggrieved parents, father Shanker Banerjee and Soma Banerjee left for Mumbai last night. Grandmother Jharna said that her daughter can never commit suicide. She was fun loving and loved her life.
"We are all in state of shock and can never believe she has committed suicide. My 'Teetan' ( nickname of Pratyusha) can never do this. I think the police must probe the incident. We will consult our lawyer and demand action," said Shanker, while leaving for Mumbai.
Her relatives however said that the actress was depressed with her personal life and her boyfriend, Rahul Raj Singh. The two were in a serious relationship and planning to marry soon. Hailing from Jamshedpur, the 24-year-old Pratyusha catapulted to fame with her role in Balika Vadhu between 2010-2013. She was later seen in the reality dance show "Jhalak Dikhla Ja-5", "Bigg Boss-7" and hosted some episodes of "Savdhan India", and recently appeared in "Sasural Simar Ka".
She did her class 10 at Kerala Public School, Kadma and went to Kolkata and then to Mumbai to pursue her dream of making big in tinsel town.
Meanwhile, the school management organised a memorial ceremony and observed a two minute silence in her memory. Her teachers remembered Pratyusha as fun loving and a girl with full of zeal.
"She was a sweet child and was very much keen in participating in events. She used to actively participate in fashion shows and other talent events. We had full confidence in her. Though she brought laurels to her alma mater but sadly fate had something else in store for her," said a teacher of Kerala Public School. She said that though she was not very regular to school because of her participation in different auditions but she loved her school very much.