Television actor Kushal Punjabi, who was recently seen in Ishq Mein Marjawan and Hum Tum, committed suicide at his home in Mumbai. He was 37. The news of Kushal ending his life by hanging himself in his Mumbai resident was a rude surprise for his friends and colleagues. As per a statement from the police, the actor 'committed suicide by hanging himself from a fan with a nylon rope'.
Reacting to the news of Kushal's death, Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar, who worked with him in the 2003 romance musical Andaaz, said during a media interaction, "I have worked with him. I think everyone has their own struggle. Some people are lucky enough to understand it, and some don't. We don't know why people do such things. There must be some reason to it, but all I can say is 'be brave enough and face the problem as it's a beautiful life, don't just let it go like that'."
Further stating that depression has become one of the biggest issues in India, Akshay expressed his desire to do a film on what goes behind a depressed mind. "I know it's very easy for me to say but I think we should fight it out and just work on it and not just try to take our own lives. If I'd ever get a chance I'd love to do a movie on depression as it's one of the biggest issues India is going through right now," the actor signed off by saying.
Kushal's suicide brings back the conversation around celebrities, known for entertaining people, struggling with mental illness in their personal lives and not even talking about it openly, and putting up a facade on social media.
(Source: PeepingMoon/with inputs from IANS)