VJ Chitra, TV anchor and actor in Vijay TV’s Tamil soap Pandian Stores, was found dead in a hotel room in Nazrethpettai, Chennai, early on Wednesday. She is suspected to have committed suicide. She was 28.
A police official from the Nazrethpettai police station told Silverscreen India, “The Inspector and SI are currently enquiring at the hotel and investigations are underway. We got information from the hotel about the actor’s death at 3.30 am. She was found hanging in the hotel room.”
According to a report by News 18, Chitra’s fiancé Hemnath, who had been staying with her in the hotel, told the police that Chitra came back from shooting early morning on Wednesday, and told him she was going to bathe. She didn’t come out for a long time, and did not respond when he knocked at the door, he said. Hemnath then called the hotel staff and when they opened the door with a duplicate key, she was reportedly found hanging from the ceiling fan.
Chitra, popularly known as Chithu, worked as a TV presenter and rose to prominence after she began acting in Tamil TV serials, including a small role in the hit Tamil serial Saravanan Meenatchi’s second season. However, she is best known for playing the role of Mullai in the ongoing Vijay TV serial, Pandian Stores.
Speaking to Silverscreen India, Kumaran, who has worked with Chitra in Pandian Stores, said, “I could not digest the news of her passing away. We were all together until yesterday night (Tuesday) and this happened. Last night, along with a few others and Chitra, all of us spent a jolly time, danced together, and we’re happy. We are yet to visit the family and I cannot comprehend this. No one is in the state of mind to talk about this now.”
Many posted condolences about her demise on social media.
shocked and heartbreaking 💔You took wrong decision #chithu ! U should have think about parents and fans and people who loved u 😢 Gone too soon 😢 #RIPChithuVJ #RIPChitra pic.twitter.com/iONELZuLQG
— Athulyaa Ravi (@AthulyaOfficial) December 9, 2020
— Vijay Television (@vijaytelevision) December 9, 2020
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
According to ANI, the police have recovered her body and sent it for an autopsy to ascertain the cause of her death.
Chitra’s last social media post was on Tuesday evening — a selfie with a heart-eyed emoji, taken at a photoshoot.
View this post on Instagram
If you feel or know someone in need of support for suicidal thoughts or behaviour, please reach out to the following helpline numbers —
AASRA- 24×7 Helpline (Hindi and English): +91-9820466726
KIRAN- 24×7 Helpline: 1800-599-0019
