New Delhi: Even though it's been over three years after the death of actor Kushal Punjabi, his friends and colleagues in the film industry still have a hard time dealing with the loss. Apurva Agnihotri and Shilpa were two of Kushal Punjabi's closest friends in the industry. Actors spoke openly about their feelings after the death of a fellow actor. A recent interview revealed that the pair had met Kushal the night before he was found dead in his flat. Shilpa said that throughout their time together, Kushal expressed sadness about his failed marriage.
In a conversation with Sidharth Kannan, Apurva said, “He was with us, the night before the incident.”
The actor said, “We felt a little guilty that as friends, we were unable to help him. In that phase, we almost needed psychiatric help due to that incident. However, a lot of our friends told us that you cannot solve this or help them completely. They need professional help with depression. One cannot continuously act as a shrine for the person who is in depression. We didn’t even pick up a single call to share what we were going through.”
On December 26, 2019, body of Kushal Punjabi was discovered in his flat in Mumbai. Police said they found a letter at the scene where he committed suicide. The actor was reportedly unhappy after his marriage ended with Audrey Dolhen. In 2015, the two tied the knot.
Shilpa Agnihotri remembered Kushal, “Obviously the broken marriage took a huge toll on him. He was extremely upset. It's a big deal when one gets separated from their kid.”
Kushal Punjabi rise to fame after winning the game show ‘Zor Ka Jhatka’; he then appeared on ‘Fear Factor’, ‘Paisa Bhari Padega’ and Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa. Films like ‘Lakshya’, ‘Kaal’, ‘Salaam-e-Ishq’, ‘Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal’, and ‘Crazy Cukkad Family’.
(Please do not hesitate to get in touch with the local mental health professional if you or someone you know is in need of help.)
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