Television actor Sanchita Ugale, known for her role in the popular show Kumkum Bhagya, was found dead at her residence in Nalasopara East on Sunday evening in an alleged case of suicide. She was 22 . The tragic incident has left the industry in shock, and now, the late actor’s cousin has made serious allegations, claiming she was under “immense stress” due to harassment from casting individuals.
According to the police, Sanchita Ugale locked herself in her bedroom at the Sai Santoshi Building in Aachole Village and allegedly hanged herself using a saree between 7 pm and 7:30 pm . She was rushed to a nearby hospital by her family, where doctors declared her dead on arrival. Based on a complaint by her father, Machhindra Ugale, an Accidental Death Report (ADR) was registered on June 15 .
‘Industry ko bahut pressure kia ja raha tha’
In a media interaction on Monday, the actor’s cousin brother, Akash Satish Ugale, broke down while speaking about the chain of events leading to the tragedy. Akash drew parallels between Sanchita’s death and that of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput, who died by suicide on June 14, 2020 .
“Hum, hamare mitra group, family ko bhi yahi lagta hai ki meri behen ko ess industry se bahut pressure kia ja raha tha” (We, our group of friends, and family also feel that my sister was being pressured a lot by this industry), Akash told the media, as quoted by ANI .
He claimed that people from the casting circuit were specifically harassing her. “I spoke to some of her friends. I found out that some casting people were harassing her. She was being mentally harassed. That’s why my sister was upset,” he alleged .
‘Power game chalta hai’
Akash further alleged that the entertainment industry operates on a “power game” that often crushes talented outsiders, echoing the sentiments raised during the Sushant Singh Rajput case. He noted that both deaths occurred on the same date, six years apart .
“Yeh industry bahot dara deti hai dhamki deti hai. Jaisi ki Sushant Singh Rajput ko kiya. Usko kha liya andar se khokla kar diya” (This industry scares and threatens you. Just like they did to Sushant Singh Rajput. They consumed him and hollowed him out from within), Akash said during the interaction .
He has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Droupadi Murmu, and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to order a thorough investigation into the case .
Conflicting Claims and Industry Reaction
While the family has pointed to professional harassment, close friend and former co-star Megha Sharma has refuted these claims. In an exclusive conversation, Megha revealed that Sanchita had been battling depression and health-related issues since January.
“Work was never an issue for her, and she was not under any pressure or facing harassment from the industry. Nothing like that ever took place,” Megha told the Times of India, dismissing the rumors as “baseless” .
She added that Sanchita was undergoing treatment for her mental health. “Whenever we met, we always supported and encouraged her. She often said that she would do something, and all of us would encourage her to stay positive,” Megha recalled .
Meanwhile, the All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) has demanded a high-level inquiry into the matter. The organization also clarified that the actor was 26 years old, correcting earlier reports that stated she was 22 .
Actor Aanchal Khurana also reacted to the incident, alleging exploitation in the television industry. She claimed that actors are often replaced if they do not compromise their self-respect .
A Rising Career Cut Short
Sanchita Ugale was steadily building her career in television, films, and OTT projects. She gained recognition for portraying Diya Tandon in Zee TV’s long-running show Kumkum Bhagya . She also played Ruchita Jaitley in Wagle Ki Duniya and played the lead role of Sukoon in Dilwali Dulha Le Jayegi .
Beyond television, she appeared in films, portraying the younger version of Tara Rani in the Vicky Kaushal-starrer Chhaava and featuring in Silence 2: The Night Owl Bar Shootout .
