Boyfriend, neighbours and maid questioned but first reports say she hanged herself in her apartment
BRITISH-RAISED Bollywood actress Jiah Khan has been found dead at her apartment in Mumbai. It is understood she hanged herself.
The 25-year-old rose to prominence in 2007 after making her debut in the controversial film Nishabd, based on American Beauty, in which she played a Lolita figure opposite Indian cinema legend Amitabh Bachchan.
She also starred with Aamir Khan in Ghajini in 2008. Her last film was 2010’s Housefull with Akshay Kumar. According to her website, Khan had recently signed up for a project in Hollywood.
The Times of India quotes a source close to the actress who said she had “been depressed for some time due to personal issues”.
The paper says that no suicide note has been found and adds that police are interviewing her maid, the security guard at the apartment block and neighbours to establish who visited her.
The Indian Express claims that her boyfriend, Suraj Pancholi, son of Bollywood actor Aditya Pancholi, was the last person to speak to Khan before she died. The paper says he is likely to be questioned by police. The paper adds that the 25-year-old was discovered by her mother and sister when they went to the flat at around 11pm on Monday night.
Jiah Khan, who was also known as Nasifa Khan, was born in New York but was raised by her mother, 1980s actress Rabiya Amin, in Chelsea, London. After leaving college she returned to New York to study acting at Lee Strasberg’s Institute in New York, before embarking on her career in Bollywood.
Khan also starred in ad campaigns for Wrangler jeans and animal rights group Peta and campaigned for Aids charities.
There was widespread shock at the news of her death. Bachchan tweeted: “Jiah Khan ??? what has happened ? is this correct ? unbelievable !!!”
Actress and model Sonam Kapoor, whose breakthrough came at the same time as Khan’s, wrote: “Rip Jiah khan. Terrible tragedy… Very very shocking and disturbing news… Nobody should be in so much pain and a state of such hopelessness. I hope her soul finds some respite in death. #ripjiahkhan.” ·