Too young to die

Twenty four is no age to go.  But sadly, when TV actress Pratyusha Banerjee hung herself in her bedroom in Mumbai, there was no one to stop her. Lost and lonely, Pratyusha was coping with a tumultuous life that included a rocky affair with her live-in boyfriend and producer, Rahul Raj Singh. The actress, who is best remembered for her portrayal as Anandi in Balika Vadhu, was cleary battling too many storms.

Her career though promising was short-lived, on account of her unfortunate death.  Despite making an impact in Bigg Boss and a brief appearance in Power Couple, it seemed like Pratyusha was struggling to find work. To add to her woes, Rahul’s alleged involvement with another TV actresss, was the final straw for this fragile young girl, who appeared to be dealing with too many issues on her own.  “Everybody has bad points in their life. But to get through it, you need to be in the right circle of friends and also know how to be in touch with yourself first,” says Kannada actress Priyanka Upendra, adding, “Before getting into the industry, the current generation needs to make sure that they are emotionally sorted and mentally stable.”

Pratyusha’s suicide is a wake up call, especially for those youngsters who seek to join the glamour industry. Long hours, lack of family support, cut-throat competition and seeking  emotional nourishment in unhealthy relationships can destroy even the most chirpiest of creatures. “There is an exceeding amount of competition in the industry today" Disha Madan, a Kannada TV actress says, adding, “Everybody is replaceable. There are several girls who are equally talented and good looking, auditioning for the same role in TV serials. The industry is huge, but small in its own way. Everybody is each other's competition.”  

Pratyusha’s death has obviously sent shockwaves across the nation.  Nobody can fathom why a pretty   and popular girl gave up on life so easily. In that one extremely vulnerable moment, she lost all desire to live. “Ninety per cent of the time, there are clear indicators that a person is going through a rough time. It is up to family and close friends to get them the help they require. If Pratyusha was given the right support at the right time, this could have been avoided,” says neuropsychiatrist Dr. Ravi Prakash.

With inputs from Sneha Kalra