Dark future, depression: What actor Sanchita Ugale's Insta chat says about her pain

Actor Indraxi Kanjilal recalled her final conversations with Sanchita Ugale and alleged on-set harassment. Her account has again drawn attention to the professional and personal struggles actors can face.

In Short

• Indraxi met Sanchita during a shelved show and they stayed close
• A casting call for Saajan Ghar alerted Indraxi to Sanchita's exit
• Sanchita had reportedly shown screenshots and videos about trouble on set

The death of television actor Sanchita Ugale has triggered fresh conversations about the pressures faced by young actors in the entertainment industry. Days after her death, screenshots of Instagram conversations between Sanchita and actor Indraxi Kanjilal were shared by Indraxi, which offered a glimpse into the emotional struggles the actor appeared to be dealing with in the months before her death.

Sanchita, best known for playing Diya Tandon in Kumkum Bhagya, died on June 14. She was 26. While the exact circumstances surrounding her death remain under investigation, the chats shared by Indraxi suggest that the actor had been battling self-doubt, anxiety and symptoms of depression.

Actor Indraxi Kanjilal, who shared a close bond with Sanchita, spoke to India Today about her friendship with the late actor and recalled the conversations they shared in the months before her death.

Sanchita Ugale was mentally harassed

Indraxi revealed that she met Sanchita for the first time during the mock shoot of a show that was later shelved. “Our vibe matched, so we started talking more and more,” she recalled. She added that when Sanchita got Saajan Ghar earlier this year, while Indraxi was in South Korea, she had congratulated her and was happy to see her excited about the opportunity. While they planned to meet soon, their schedules never aligned.

According to Indraxi, around two months ago, she received a casting call for Saajan Ghar as the makers were looking for a new lead. Confused by the development, she immediately contacted Sanchita, who told her that she was leaving the show due to health issues. However, Indraxi says that when she asked Sanchita about it further, she opened up about the difficulties she was allegedly facing on the set.

“She told me that she was being mentally harassed and traumatised by her co-actor. She showed me screenshots and videos,” Indraxi claimed.

Sharing why she connected with Sanchita’s situation, Indraxi said, “I felt bad for her because I have also gone through a similar experience in my previous show. I understood what she must have been feeling.”

Indraxi added that she advised Sanchita to speak to the production team. “I told her to tell the production about it, but she said she had already told the director and no action was taken. She didn’t want to leave the show, but she had to because of all that bullying and harassment,” she said.

According to Indraxi, the situation reportedly began after a disagreement involving money. “I think the whole thing started when her co-actor borrowed money from her but didn’t return it,” she said, adding that the situation allegedly escalated after that.

'Now I know depression is real'

She also shared that the stress had affected Sanchita’s health. “The bullying got so bad that her health started deteriorating. She was suffering from depression and anxiety as well,” Indraxi said.

In one of the conversations, Sanchita appears to describe the emotional toll she was experiencing. According to the screenshots, she told Indraxi that she had once dismissed depression but had come to understand its impact after experiencing it herself.

Recalling their last conversations, Indraxi said Sanchita was planning a trip to Mahabaleshwar and was hoping to start auditioning again after returning. She said, "Last week she seemed sad and anxious, hence I told her to come over to my house, but she didn’t want to leave her house. She might have been depressed subconsciously."

Indraxi also admitted that she has been struggling with the loss and regrets not reaching out sooner. “I miss her already and I am regretting that I didn’t text her soon. I am really sad,” she said.

While sharing her account, Indraxi Kanjilal clarified that she knows only the side of the story that Sanchita shared with her and that there may be details she is unaware of.

India Today reached out to her co-star and producer Gul Khan for comment but had not received a response at the time of publication.

- Ends