Upcoming actress Gajala tried to commit suicide late Sunday night by taking sleeping pills but recovered soon, at the Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences here.

Gajala was in Hyderabad, the Andhra capital shooting the film Bharatsimha Reddy.

She caught the fancy of movie goers with three films - Student No.1, O Chinnadana and Allari Ramudu. She had changed her name from Raji to Gajala which apparently brought her more success.

The Mumbai-based actress arrived in Hyderabad on July 16 with her friend Sultana and was staying at the Prashant Kutir guesthouse in upscale Banjara Hills with her when she reportedly tried to end her life.

Eyewitnesses said she returned late in the evening, had dinner and was preparing to go to bed when she is believed to have one sleeping pill too many.

Sultana was reportedly in the bathroom when Gajala took the pills. Soon afterwards, Sultana found her actress friend began slurring while speaking and then fell unconscious.

Her friend suspecting something was wrong telephoned Gajala's brother who called up his friend the Tamil actor Arjun. Together they rushed her to the government managed hospital where curiously the police came to know of the actress' suicide attempt 16 hours later and blamed the hospital management.

When news broke of the failed suicide attempt, the hospital's management cordoned off the Millennium Block where the actress was recuperating and prevented journalists from entering.

While the actress claimed she overdosed because of "loneliness and depression", the film's producer Kalyan had a completely different story. He said she could have become sick due to food poisoning and claimed the actress would be back on the sets on Tuesday.

People remained sceptical, however, recalling the sensational 'suicide' of young actress Pratyusha six months ago which took several bizarre turns and is now being investigated for murder by the Criminal Bureau of Investigation and also by the High Court which intervened after more than one writ petition was filed before it.