Taruni Sachdev
Taruni Sachdev (14 May 1998 – 14 May 2012) was an Indian child actress and model. She made her film debut in 2004 with Vellinakshatram, which endeared her to Malayalam audiences. The same year, she appeared in Sathyam. Her last film was Vetri Selvan (2014), which was released two years after her death. She died in the Agni Air Dornier 228 crash near Jomsom Airport in Nepal. Her mother also died in the crash.
Taruni Sachdev | |
---|---|
Born | Mumbai, India | 14 May 1998
Died | 14 May 2012 13) Jomsom, Nepal | (aged
Cause of death | Agni Air Flight CHT crash |
Occupation | Model, actress |
Years active | 2003–2012 |
Personal life
Taruni Sachdev was born on 14 May 1998 in Mumbai, India, to industrialist Haresh Sachdev and Geeta Sachdev.[1][2][3] She studied to class nine at Bai Avabai Framji Petit Girls' High School.[3]
Career
Sachdev had dreamt of becoming a heroine.[3] In 2004, she made her debut in Vinayan's comedy-horror Vellinakshatram.[3] Vinayan said Vellinakshatram endeared Sachdev to Malayalam audiences.[4] The same year, Sachdev appeared in the action thriller Sathyam.[5]
Director Vinayan had spotted Sachdev in an advertisement with Amitabh Bachchan and contacted Bachchan's manager to cast Sachdev in his films.[4] He recalls: "We were all amazed by the manner in which she performed. She was just five then and could render Malayalam dialogues after listening to it for a couple of times. I still remember the intensity with which she performed in the climax of the film, where even senior actors found it difficult to work against high-speed propellers".[4]
In 2009, Sachdev appeared in R. Balki's comedy-drama Paa, where she starred as Somi, Amitabh Bachchan's classmate.[6] According to India Today, she "shot to fame" after appearing in the film.[1]
Besides acting, Sachdev appeared in more than fifty commercials, including television advertisements for Colgate, ICICI Bank, Saffola oil, and Kesar Badam Milk.[1][1] She is best remembered for doing Rasna commercials with the actress Karisma Kapoor, and was nicknamed the "Rasna girl".[1][7][8] She also appeared on the television game show Kya Aap Paanchvi Pass Se Tez Hain?.[9]
Her last film was the Tamil drama-thriller Vetri Selvan, which was released in 2014.[10] Sachdev had completed most of her part; director Rudhran stated that her footage would be retained "as a remembrance of the prodigy" and that the rest of her role would be patched up during the post-production.[11]
Death
Before Taruni left for a month-long trip to Nepal, on 11 May 2012, she hugged all of her friends and told them: "I'm meeting you guys for the last time".[12] When her friend asked her why, she replied with "[I'm] just joking".[12] Taruni had never hugged her friends or said goodbye before leaving for her earlier holidays.[12] Taruni died in the Agni Air Dornier 228 crash near Jomsom Airport in Nepal, on 14 May 2012.[1][12] Taruni's mother Geetha Sachdev, who accompanied her on the flight also died.[1]
Before boarding the flight, Taruni messaged her friend, "jokingly asking what would happen if the plane crashed" and she also sent her last message saying "I love you".[12] Taruni's and her mother's body was brought to Kathmandu and then to Mumbai.[8][13] Both of them were cremated in Mumbai on 16 May 2012.[13][14][15]
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Language | Notes | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2004 | Vellinakshatram | Ammukutty | Malayalam | [8] | |
2004 | Sathyam | Chinnukkutty | Malayalam | ||
2008 | Kya Aap Paanchvi Pass Se Tez Hain? | Participant | Hindi | Television show | [9] |
2009 | Paa | Student | Hindi | [16] | |
2014 | Vetri Selvan | Abhi | Tamil | Tamil movie debut posthumous release | [10] |
References
- "Taruni Sachdev died on her 14th birthday". India Today. New Delhi. 16 May 2012. ISSN 0254-8399. Archived from the original on 17 May 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
- "Child Artist Among Victims". The New Indian Express. 15 May 2012. Archived from the original on 1 May 2020. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
- Dubey, Bharati (16 May 2012). "Nepal plane crash: Rasna girl Taruni Sachdeva dreamt to become heroine". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 1 May 2020.
- "Film industry shocked at Taruni's death". The Hindu. 15 May 2012. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 1 May 2020. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
- "Amitabh Bachchan's 'Paa' child co-star dies in Nepal air crash - Entertainment News, Firstpost". Firstpost. 15 May 2012. Archived from the original on 1 May 2020. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
- "Rasna girl among victims". The Telegraph. Kolkota. 16 May 2012. Archived from the original on 1 May 2020. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
- "Remembering Taruni Sachdev". The Times of India. 16 May 2012. Archived from the original on 1 May 2020. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
- "Child actor Taruni Sachdev among victims of Dornier crash". The Hindu. 15 May 2012. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 1 May 2020. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
- "Child artiste Taruni Sachdev dies in Nepal plane crash - Indian Express". The Indian Express. 15 May 2012. Archived from the original on 1 May 2020. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
- Balachandran, Logesh (16 June 2014). "Radhika Apte and Ajmal Ameer fights on sets". Deccan Chronicle. Archived from the original on 1 May 2020. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
- "We Will Keep Taruni's Scenes As Remembrance". Behindwoods. 21 June 2012. Archived from the original on 1 May 2020. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
- "Taruni said all her goodbyes before leaving for Nepal". NDTV. 17 May 2012. Archived from the original on 1 May 2020. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
- "Paa child artist Taruni Sachdev cremated in Mumbai". Rediff. 17 May 2012. Archived from the original on 1 May 2020. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
- "Balki, Advani remember Taruni as versatile and disciplined actor". Deccan Herald. Indo-Asian News Service. 17 May 2012. Archived from the original on 1 May 2020. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
- Valthaty, Nathaniel; Fleury, Johan; Rakshit, Pratik (17 May 2012). "Tears and chants mark Nepal crash victims' last rites". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 1 May 2020. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
- "Bachchan co-star dies in crash". BBC News. 15 May 2012. ISSN 2421-3667. Archived from the original on 1 May 2020. Retrieved 1 May 2020.