The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Actress Aarti Agarwal attempts suicide?

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 24, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Actress Aarti Agarwal attempts suicide?

By Our Staff Reporter

SHOCK AND DISMAY: Cine actress Arti Agarwal, who allegedly attempted suicide, is seen with her father Shashank Agarwal after being discharged from the Apollo Hospital in Hyderabad on Wednesday. _ Photo: Mohammed Yousuf

HYDERABAD, MARCH 23. In an incident that created a flutter in Tollywood, actress Aarti Agarwal allegedly made a suicide bid at her residence in the city late on Tuesday night. She was treated at the Apollo Hospital and discharged on Wednesday after doctors declared her condition stable.

Aarti, who starred in several Telugu films, including the recent `Sankranthi' and forthcoming release, `Soggadu', reportedly consumed `a cleaning chemical' around 1.30 a.m. and was rushed to the hospital.

According to the police who recorded her statement this morning, Aarti is claimed to have taken the step as she was `perturbed at the gossip linking her with a film actor'.

Her father, Shashank Agarwal, said he had returned from a U.S. trip yesterday and claimed ignorance about what exactly could have pushed the young actress towards the step. "As of now, I am more concerned about her health than the causes," he told mediapersons at the hospital.

Mr. Agarwal said he was not aware of his daughter having the `much rumoured affair with a co-star' and sought to ridicule suggestions that he objected to it. "When I am not aware of an affair, how can I object?" He expressed shock and surprise at the development, and said his daughter never appeared to be frustrated or depressed.

According to Apollo Hospital, the actress was discharged after a team of doctors examined and found her to be `conscious, stable and coherent'. "She is talking and walking around and is fit to go home," said the hospital vice-president, K. Hari Prasad.

Aarti was escorted out of the hospital by her father along with her sister and actress, Aditi Agarwal, in the afternoon. Aarti, who was born and brought up in the U.S., has so far acted in dozen movies and has teamed with leading stars like Chiranjeevi, Nagarjuna, Venkatesh and Tarun.

The Assistant Commissioner of Police, Banjara Hills, K. Muralidhar Rao, said a case was registered and her statement recorded. "Aarti told us that she was upset and depressed at the gossip about her having an affair with a co-star and consumed the cleaning chemical," he said.

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