TV actor Kuljeet Randhawa found hanging, 18 months ago friend Nafisa went the same way

“External examination suggests death due to hanging,” said V N Tasgaonkar, medical officer at R N Cooper Hospital. She was cremated this afternoon.

The police said Randhawa left behind a “suicide note” addressed to co-star Bhanu Uday, who plays the lead in Star One’s Special Squad. It read: “…. Some cheques need to be cleared, keys to be given to my father… Everything in life is according to plans… As for my parents, I’m sorry. I’m sorry Mama. Keys of the car are to be handed over to my father. No one is to be blamed for this and it is entirely my decision”.

Randhawa’s eldest sister Kittu and Bhailal Gupta, her estate agent of two years, spoke to her hours before she allegedly killed herself.

“She called me at around 3.30 pm and sounded slightly low. She was probably missing home. I never thought she would commit suicide,’’ said Kittu. Gupta also got a call at around 3 pm. ‘‘She said she wanted to vacate the flat because she was planning to go to the US (Randhawa’s brother stays there). She wanted her Rs 1-lakh deposit back,’’ he said.

Gupta told her that she would need to give a month’s notice. “She agreed and said that she would vacate the flat by March 8,” said Gupta. According to the Juhu police, Randhawa had just returned from Delhi. “Just three days ago, she returned from Delhi after meeting her parents and relatives,’’ said Investigating Officer Sub-Inspector Manohar Desai.

Friends and actors who knew her said she was a go-getter and a thorough professional, who was very reserved and extremely emotional. “She and Nafisa were very close,” said photographer Vikram Bawa, a close friend of Joseph. “When Nafisa died, Kuljeet cried for almost half-a-day.”’ Manish Wadhwa, Randhawa’s co-star in Sahara One’s Kohinoor, said she was very confident. “She was always on time and very professional. She often teased me about my character name Kaali,” he said.