Britain born Model-turned-actress Jiah Khan, who made
debut starring opposite Amitabh Bachchan in Ramgopal Varma’s Nishabd, has
committed suicide yesterday (03 May, 2013)
She hanged herself with a piece of cloth, at her
residence (Sagar Tarang in Juhu, Mumbai). According to the police, Jiah ended
her life at about 11 pm but did not leave any suicide note. She was struggling
with depression.
The 25-year-old actress body has been shifted for autopsy
at Cooper Hospital in Juhu, Mumbai. Police is investigating reasons that would
have led to suicide.
Her real name is Nafisa. Rabiya
Amin (her mother), was a lesser-known actress in 1980s. Rabiya was best
remembered for appearing in Tahir Hussain's ‘Dulha Bikta Nahin’.
Young Nafisa studied film
and literature in London and then moved to New York to attend the famed Lee
Strasberg Academy of Dramatic Arts. She quit her acting course after she got
offer in Bollywood.
She was supposed to do
Mahesh Bhatt's ‘Tumsa Nahin Dekha’ (which was released in 2004). Jiah, who was then just 16, backed out of the
role of a strip dancer. She felt it was too mature for her, later she was replaced
by Dia Mirza.
She debuted in 2007
opposite Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan, 70 in ‘Nishabd’., which released
in 2007. The film which a controversial story-line was reportedly inspired by
both Kevin Spacey film American Beauty and Rajesh Khanna's Anokha Rishta. Jiah played
a seductive teen, who falls in love with her best friend's father (Amitabh
Bachchan). The film shocked critics and cine-goers with its provoking content. Jiah
was extensively praised for her confidence, screen presence and appeal. She was
nominated for a Filmfare Best Debut award and became known as Bollywood's next
big thing.
She later bagged superhit film Ghajini (released in 2008), starring Aamir
Khan and Asin. Jiah played medical student Sunita who investigates and then
befriends a puzzling businessman with amnesia.
Her third film Housefull (2010) was a blockbuster, in which she played the
third female lead with Deepika Padukone and Lara Dutta.
She was also cast opposite Shahid Kapoor in ‘Chance Pe Dance’. She was
replaced by Genelia D’Souza, after shooting a large portion of the film.
She was rumoured to be Aamir Khan’s step sister. Aamir’s father,
producer Tahir Hussain had worked with Jiah’s mother Rabiya in a few films
several years back. And it all started with that ‘working relationship’. By the
way, Jiah herself doesn’t know who her father is, except the information passed
on by her mother that her father was an American.
Her last tweet dated 24 May, says “So
sorry I have been off twitter! Took a bit of a break from twitter verse..
sometimes u need a sabbatical to recollect ur thoughts (sic).”
Her death was greeted with shock and sadness in the film fraternity.
Bachchan tweeted, “WHAT
...!!! Jiah Khan ??? what has happened ? is this correct ? unbelievable !!!”
Director Ram Gopal Varma tweeted, "Shocked and choked to hear about Jiah ... So
young and so pretty ... Just cant believe that someone as young nd so full of
life is just dead(sic)"
Actor Arshad Warsi tweeted, “Shocked to hear about Jiah Khan, she was too young to give up on
life... RIP.”
Shahid Kapoor too tweeted, “Shocked n saddened to hear about jiah khan ... Very disturbing ... RIP
....may her soul rest in peace (sic).”
Kunal Kapoor wrote,
“So shocked and saddened by this terrible news!! May your soul find peace #Jiah
khan (sic),”
Bipasha Basu too took to Twitter, "#Rip Jiah Khan!God bless her soul!(sic)"
"Very sad news
about Jiah khan :( makes me feel vulnerable :(... It's a strange
world(sic)," tweeted Aditi Rao Hydari.
Actor-comedian Vir Das wrote, "It's just incredibly sad when anyone so young takes their own life.
R.I.P Jiah Khan.(sic)"
Director Kunal Kohli tweeted, "What she must've gone thru to take such a step we'll never know. May
her soul rest in peace. Jiah Khan."
"Shocked and
saddened by the news ... Gone way too soon... RIP Jiah Khan(sic),"
wrote Neha Dhupia on the micro-blogging site.
Manoj Bajpayee wrote, "Its shocking to hear that a young one has commited suicide.may your
soul rest in peace jiah khan!too young to go!(sic)"
Sandhya Mridul's tweet read: "Oh god why ... Rip Jiah .. May you find love & joy wherever you are
..(sic)"
-K Himaanshu Shukla...
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