Audience’s beloved Balika Vadhu, who was fighting odds in “reel” life, was laid to rest in “real” life after being finally incinerated at about 6.20 pm as part of her last rites at Oshiwara electric crematorium. Television actor Pratyusha Banerjee’s body was carried to the crematorium at around 6 pm following a post-mortem.
Pratyusha’s body was draped in bridal attire by friends while her mother, Soma Banerjee, sang “Aaj jaane ki zidd na karo” for her departed daughter. Soma was inconsolable and kept saying, “I don't know why my daughter did this ” A close friend present at the funeral revealed that the actor had requested her mother to return to the city but for some reason, she was unable to join her. Pratyusha’s father too kept talking to his dead daughter. The parents’ gestures brought tears to the eyes of all present at the crematorium.
According to eyewitnesses, a heated exchange took place between television actors Kamya Punjabi and Ajaz Khan, as the latter kept mouthing things that irritated everyone in general. Finally, Ajaz was politely asked to leave the cremation ground by the actress’ family members. “I was very close to her. I never thought she would do something like this. She was too young to go,” said Mahi Bhaushali, close friend of the actress.
Another close friend, Kunal Verma, said, “I am very shocked. I never thought she would hang herself. We can get emotional but we are waiting for her post-mortem report to know what happened. She was a strong girl. She could not have taken her own life. She was used to staying with her parents. Ever since they left the city, she was feeling lonely. We all were there for her if only she had called us.”
Several television personalities including Smita Bansal, Rohit Verma, Rakhi Sawant, Ratan Rajput, Sara Khan, Pooja Bose, Shilpa Saklani, Apoorva Agnihotri, Jay Bhanushali, Mahi Vij, Kamya Punjabi and Ajaz Khan attended the funeral.
