Pratyusha Banerjee suicide: Industry insider speculate murder

"Sad sad sad. Nothing's worth ending your one beautiful gift called life for... My heart bleeds for the parents and family...," tweeted 'Bigg Boss 7" winner Gauhar Khan.

"The news is absolutely saddening. I know life is tough but why do you need to do this. She was so young, I don't know what happened. Lots of strength to her family during this time," Kushal Tandon, her co-contestant said.

The 24-year-old was found hanging from a ceiling fan at her flat in Bangur Nagar in suburban Kandivli, a police officer said.

However, no suicide note was found from the flat, he said, adding the exact cause of the death, which occurred around afternoon, will be known only after an autopsy is conducted.

"Is it confirmed? It is really sad, I am just shocked and speechless. I can only pray for her family right now," actress Elli Evram, who also participated in the show with Pratyusha, said, adding that

"So shocked to hear about Pratyusha Banerjee suicide. Makes me think of Nafisa and Jiah. All beautiful, talented girls. This is heartbreaking," Sophie Choudry tweeted. "Can't believe #pratyushabanerjee is no more. Rip. Have gone numb. She was so young," Ragini Khanna tweeted. "Shocking... can't believe this news. Rip PrayushaBanerjee," Sambhavna Seth tweeted.

A few fellow actors like Ratan Rajput and Jay Bhanushali said they thought it was an April fool prank, but were shocked when the news was confirmed.

"I got to know at around 9 pm when I was shooting for my show. I thought somebody was making April fool joke. Then I checked with our common friend Vikas Gupta and he said it was true. I was shocked. This is unbelievable. I have just reached Kokilaben hospital," Ratan said.

"It is really sad. She took such a big step and I don't know why. Initially I thought it must be an April fool's prank but then I got it confirmed through some of my media friends and close associates," Bhanushali said.

VJ Andy also said he thought it was a joke after hearing the news on Twitter. "Then I got a call from Tanisha who told me the same. Then my manager too confirmed it. I still cannot believe it. I am shocked."

Recalling time spent with her, Ratan said Pratyusha was a "chirpy, bubbly girl, always smiling and laughing". "I spent one month with her in Bigg Boss house. We last met at the screening of film 'Kuku Mathur ki jhand' and laughed so much about our times in Bigg Boss. I still feel that she hasn't gone and this just a fake news," she said.

Others like Ajaz Khan, said they didn't think it was suicide. "This can't be suicide. She was a strong girl she can't commit suicide. I feel this is murder and if this is suicide then she was forced to commit suicide. This has happened because of her love life.

"She had stopped meeting her friends also because he (her boyfriend) didn't like it. When I had met the guy, I had told Pratyusha that you are a beautiful girl please be careful... I met her a couple of days ago and she was fine. So now suddenly suicide! There's obviously something fishy," Khan, a Bigg Boss 7 contestant, told PTI.

"She was a very lively girl. Pratyusha was a very dear friend so I know suicide is not possible," Bhanushali said.

"She was so full of life, and always seemed happy. The last time I had met here she was fine and seemed ok. I really don't know how to react now," said Andy, who was in Bigg Boss 7 with Pratyusha.

Reacting to the news, Bollywood producer Tanuj Garg tweeted, "Terrible, terrible news about Pratyusha Banerjee. Met her once at a party. How extreme must pressures be to drive one to take one's own life."