What’s plaguing showbiz?

Eknath Shinde, Noor Malabika Das and Devendra Fadnavis

Shocked by actor Noor Malabika Das' death, the All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) is planning to have a meeting with Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and urge for a thorough probe into the alleged suicide. The union has shot off a letter to them to this effect. Noor, who was last seen in Kajol's The Trial, was found dead by the Oshiwara Police at her Lokhandwala flat on June 10, four days after she passed away on June 6. The police found her when they broke into her apartment after her neighbours reported a foul smell coming from her residence.

Suresh Shyamlal Gupta, President, AICWA, says he is concerned about the high incidence of suicides in showbiz. "There are many suicide cases among actors in the Indian film industry, which is why the government needs to investigate this issue seriously. I will meet the Chief Minister and Home Minister regarding Noor Malabika Das' case and demand an SIT [Special Investigation Team] probe. In the case of actress Tunisha Sharma, who allegedly died by suicide on set [in 2022], I have been fighting to have it investigated as a potential murder. The central government must also be made aware of and investigate the high rate of suicides in Bollywood," says Gupta. In the letter, the union also stated that one cannot rule out foul play.

With Noor's death investigation underway, more details are emerging. On Tuesday, her aunt Arati Das reportedly indicated that she was battling depression. She said that the actor hoped to make it big and was "unsatisfied with her achievements, which forced her to take this extreme step."

Hailing from Assam, Noor was a flight attendant with Qatar Airways, before featuring in a few web series.