Taruni Sachdev

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]

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]

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]

• Taruni Sachdev on IMDb