Indian actress Suhani Bhatnagar dies at 19

By Minh Long February 19, 2024 | 06:05 am PT

Suhani Bhatnagar, who gained fame for her role in the Indian blockbuster Dangal (2016), passed away on Feb. 16 at the age of 19, succumbing to a rare inflammatory disease.

According to her father, Sumit Bhatnagar, she battled dermatomyositis, a condition characterized by skin rash and muscle weakness, reported Indian news agency PTI on Feb. 17.

19-year-old Indian actress Suhani Bhatnagar. Photo from her Instagram

The young actress had been admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi on Feb. 7. She tragically passed away due to medical complications nine days later.

Sumit shared the difficulties faced in diagnosing Suhani’s condition, explaining, "She developed a red spot on her hands about two months ago. We initially thought it was an allergy and consulted with doctors in different hospitals in Faridabad, but a conclusive diagnosis proved elusive. As her condition worsened, we admitted her to AIIMS. Unfortunately, there was no improvement, and her lungs suffered damage from the accumulation of excess fluid."

Suhani, who resided in Faridabad City with her family, had temporarily stepped away from acting to focus on her studies, Indian daily Hindustan Times reported on Feb. 18.

Her breakthrough came with the 2016 drama Dangal, where she portrayed the role of a young Babita Phogat, one of the daughters mentored by the wrestler Mahavir Phogat, played by renowned Indian actor Aamir Khan.

Following her success in Dangal, Suhani ventured into various TV series.