Kushal Punjabi cremated in presence of family and friends

With moist eyes and a heavy heart, family and friends bid adieu to the departed soul of TV actor Kushal Punjabi on Saturday afternoon. The family requested the media to respect their privacy and asked them not to cover the last rites of Punjabi, which were performed at Santacruz crematorium here. Besides family, industry friends including actors Chetan Hansraj, Karanvir Bohra, Arjun Bijalani, Eijaz Khan, Karan V Grover, Karan Mehra, Delnaaz Irani, Bhakhtyaar and Tanaaz Irani, Dhrashti Dhami, Kubbra Sait, Sushant Singh, among others paid their last respects.

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Punjabi committed suicide at his Bandra residence in the early hours of Friday. In his suicide note, the actor wrote that no one should be held responsible for the extreme step. The actor was married to a European woman, Audrey Dolhen, and shared a three-year-old son named Kian, but the couple was living separately for a while.

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Punjabi started his career as a dancer and model. He appeared in several music videos such as "Pehla Nasha (remix)" and DJ Aqeel's "Kehdoon Tumhen" recreation. He also participated in Gladrags Manhunt Contest in the year 2000.  His television debut happened with "A Mouthful Of Sky" in 1995 and over the years, Punjabi featured in popular shows such as "Kasam Se", "Kkusum", "Dekho Magar Pyaar Se" and "Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat" among others.

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His film career started with 1996's anthology feature "Bomgay", which also featured Rahul Bose with whom he later starred in Kaizad Gustad's 1998 movie "Bombay Boys". He had been part of quite a few films including Akshay Kumar and Priyanka Chopra-starrer "Andaz", murder mystery "Sssshhh...", in Farhan Akhtar's "Lakshya", Karan Johar and Shah Rukh Khan's joint production "Kaal", Nikkhil Advani directed "Salaam-e-Ishq" and "Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal", starring John Abraham and Arshad Warsi.

Punjabi also appeared in multiple reality shows such as "Fear Factor", "Mr. & Miss TV", "Paisa Bhari Padega" and "Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa". In 2011, he won the Shah Rukh Khan-hosted reality game show, "Zor Ka Jhatka: Total Wipeout", an Indian version of US series of the same name. 

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