Highlights
It was on the 11th of September 2024 when the Bollywood community was brought to its knees by the sad news of the demise of Anil Kuldeep Mehta, stepfather to the beautiful and talented Malaika Arora. As per the Mumbai Police, Anil Kuldeep Mehta was found lying unconscious on the ground floor from the terrace of his Bandra residence and it was suspected to be a case of suicide. The death has come as a shock to family, friends, and fans, and there are many questions as to how he died. While the search for the cause of the fire goes on, the entertainment industry stands with Malaika Arora and her family during this dark period.
The Incident and the First Investigation
On Wednesday, 11th September 2024, Mumbai Police received a rather disturbing call from a house in Bandra. This was the situation when they came to know that Anil Kuldeep Mehta, stepfather of Bollywood fame Malaika Arora had allegedly committed suicide by jumping off from the terrace of his building. The police then promptly sealed off the area and began their first investigation.
People who were around Anil Kuldeep Mehta’s residence at the time of the occurrence testified that they saw a commotion just before the event happened. Eyewitnesses mentioned that they heard a noise of a loud sound like a thud and then people screaming in panic. The police and an ambulance were immediately called to the scene, however, Anil Kuldeep Mehta was declared dead on arrival. It is still unclear at this time, why such drastic action was taken. Mumbai Police have opened a very serious investigation into the cause of death of Anil Kuldeep Mehta. They are now talking to relatives, friends, and neighbors in an attempt to establish the decedent’s state of mind in the recent past and if there was something that would compel him to make such a deadly decision.
Anil Kuldeep Mehta: A Private Life in the Public Eye
Despite being the stepfather of one of the most famous Bollywood actors, Anil Kuldeep Mehta kept himself away from the limelight most of his life. He was very much a reserved man who rarely liked to be in the public eye and most times followed his daughter, Malaika Arora. Anil Kuldeep Mehta, a Punjabi Hindu from Fazilka had worked in the Indian Merchant Navy at some point of time in his life. He was married to Joyce Polycarp, a Malayali Christian, and the couple had two daughters: Malaika and Amrita are two sisters from the show. However, their marriage failed and they divorced when Malaika was only 11 years old and this brought about a change of the family structure.
Impact on Malaika Arora And The Entertainment Industry
After the divorce, Malaika and Amrita shifted to Chembur with their mother. Nevertheless, Anil Kuldeep Mehta continued being a presence in the lives of his daughters, Malaika and Amrita, who used to visit him often at his Bandra home. In the recent past, there were signs that Anil Kuldeep Mehta may have been having health complications. Earlier last year, Malaika and her mother were seen going to a hospital in Mumbai where Anil was admitted due to some issues. This has made some family members and close friends develop some concerns about his welfare.
It was quite a shock for Bollywood to learn that Anil Kuldeep Mehta is no more. Malaika Arora who is famous for her work in Indian films especially in dance sequences and as a judge in reality shows has always kept her family life rather private. When the news of the tragedy went viral, condolence messages started flooding the social media pages of celebrities, fans, and well-wishers. The entertainment industry has come out in support of Malaika and her family during this dark period expressing their condolences to the family. Malaika’s sister Amrita Arora Ladak, who is married to businessman Shakeel Ladak and has two sons, is also devastated by the loss of her father. The two very inseparable sisters are said to be standing by each other during this difficult time.
The event has also brought back debates on the issue of mental health and well-being of celebrities and other personalities in the entertainment field. A lot of celebrities have come out to social media to share their disbelief and to encourage everyone to pay attention to mental health, especially celebrities and their families. In the meantime, the family has asked for privacy as they try to cope with the tragedy that befell them. People have honored this request, encouraged him from a distance, and have shared some of the few public outings of Anil Kuldeep Mehta with his daughter.
