The family of Kumkum Bhagya fame Sanchita Ugale is still reeling from her sudden demise. The 22-year-old actress died by suicide on June 14 at her residence in Sai Santoshi Building, Achole Village, Nalasopara East. While the exact reason remains unknown, her father has made shocking allegations, claiming she was under constant stress and harassment.
Father Reveals Harassment on Set
In an interview with Tellymasala, Sanchita's father shared that she had landed a role in the show Saajan Ghar and completed around 30-35 episodes, with a total expected run of nearly 100 episodes. However, after a few weeks, he noticed something was troubling her. “She seemed mentally exhausted. According to her, she was often made to feel isolated and was repeatedly told that she was not performing well. This affected her confidence and put her under a lot of pressure,” he said.
Long Working Hours and Lack of Sleep
He also raised concerns about her hectic work schedule. “The official working hours were around 12 hours, but shoots would often stretch to 14 hours or more. On top of that, she had to spend several hours travelling to and from the location every day. Her work and travel would take up almost the entire day, and she would hardly get any time to rest,” he alleged. He further added that she was constantly under stress and became irritable due to lack of sleep. “People on her set would assume she was tired or sleepy, but the reality was that she was struggling to get proper sleep despite being exhausted,” he explained.
The Day of the Incident
Sanchita's father revealed that no one else was at home on the day of the incident. She chose to stay back instead of attending her dance class with her younger sister. “Nothing unusual happened during our last conversation. We spoke at home as we normally did every day. We talked about routine things and household matters. Everything seemed normal, and there was no sign of any tension. We had some work, so her mother and I stepped out for a while. She was supposed to go for her dance class at 7 with her younger sister, but she did not go that day. When we came back, the door was locked. We asked her to open it, but when she did not, we had to break the door and enter,” he recounted.
Father's Praise and Initial Reluctance
He praised his daughter, noting that she took on responsibilities like a son. “She was my daughter but took on responsibilities like a son. She looked after everything and was always there for the family. We both worked and supported the household together. At first, I was not very keen on her joining the industry. But when I saw her dedication and interest in what she was doing, I felt happy and encouraged her to continue. I simply told her, 'Go ahead and do it,'” he said.
Police Report Details
According to police reports, the incident occurred on June 14 between 7:00 pm and 7:30 pm. Assistant Police Inspector Vinod Bagh of Achole Police Station stated that Sanchita had locked herself inside her bedroom and allegedly hanged herself from a ceiling fan using a saree.
Disclaimer: If you or someone you know is struggling with emotional distress or having thoughts of self-harm, please seek support from a mental health professional or contact a local crisis helpline. Help is available.
