Television actress Kamya Punjabi was good friends with Late Pratyusha Banerjee, who committed suicide earlier this year in April. The actress, usually known to be quite strong, becomes emotional when it comes to Pratyusha, with whom she shared a deep bond.
Recently Kamya was supposed to perform a suicide scene for her show Shakti — Astitva Ke Ehsaas Ki. However, the scene became difficult to shoot as she was constantly reminded of her late friend. She told Pinkvilla:
I am a strong woman. But shooting this scene, in which I commit suicide by hanging myself like my friend (Pratyusha) apparently did a few months ago, has been the most difficult one in my life. I was overwhelmed by a weird feeling of helplessness and had knots in my stomach.
She further went on to speak about Pratyusha, the similarities they shared and coping up with life post her death:
It’s a huge coincidence that my show replaced Balika Vadhu, in which Pratyusha played the original grown-up Anandi. Our birthdays are just two days apart – hers being on August 10 and mine on 13th. Pratyusha’s birthday was the biggest occasion of her life and would begin the preparations a month in advance. She would insist on celebrating our birthdays together. I just couldn’t muster the courage to cut the cake on my birthday this year. My co-actors and the unit made me cut one finally. She used to stay over at my place and I still have her clothes and bag at my home.
This is making us very sad. 🙁 Stay strong, Kamya!