Actor Lalit Manchanda of 'Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah' dies at 36: Suicide suspected

Dubai: Lalit Manchanda, an actor known for his appearances in popular Indian television serials including Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, was found dead in his Meerut home on Monday. He was 36.

According to police officials, his body was discovered inside his residence after an emergency call was made. Preliminary investigations point towards suicide, although no note was recovered from the scene. The circumstances surrounding his death are still being examined.

The Cine & TV Artistes' Association (CINTAA), of which Manchanda had been a member since 2012, paid tribute to the late actor on social media. “CINTAA expresses its condolences on the demise of Lalit Manchanda,” the note read on Instagram, a quiet but heartfelt acknowledgment of a life lost too soon.

Lalit’s career in the entertainment industry spanned several years, with supporting roles in serials like Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, India’s Most Wanted, and Crime Patrol. His appearances, though brief, were impactful, and he carved out a space for himself as a reliable character actor.

But behind the scenes, Lalit was grappling with personal and financial hardships. According to The Times of India, he had been facing mounting mental stress in recent months. A report by India TV further revealed that Lalit had recently moved from Mumbai to Meerut, where he had been living with his brother, Sanjay Manchanda, for the past six months. After spending more than a decade in Mumbai working in the entertainment industry, the move marked a significant shift in his life—perhaps an attempt to find some semblance of stability.

Friends and colleagues say Lalit had been struggling with a financial crisis in the days leading up to his death. It is a painful reminder of the silent battles so many in the entertainment world endure behind the glitz and glamour of screen life.

Lalit Manchanda is survived by his wife, Taru Manchanda, their 18-year-old son Ujjwal, and daughter Shreya.