Actress Jyothsna Channdola has spoken out about the death of her friend and co-star Sanchita Ugale, urging people never to dismiss emotional distress as trivial. Ugale, 22, died by suicide on 14 June 2025 at her residence in Aachole Village, Nalasopara East, Mumbai. Doctors declared her dead on arrival at the hospital.

How Sanchita Ugale Died

According to reports, Ugale had locked herself inside her bedroom and allegedly hanged herself from a ceiling fan using a saree. She was found at her home in Nalasopara East and was rushed to hospital, where she was declared dead on arrival. She was 22 years old at the time of her death.

Jyothsna Channdola's Video Message

Channdola, who worked alongside Ugale on the Zee TV show 'Kumkum Bhagya', shared a video message on social media addressing both her personal grief and the broader conversation around mental health. In her caption, she wrote: 'Mental health is very serious hum khud hi aware ho jaaaye toh baat hi kya hai .. Im not the one who put videos like this I might delete it very soon bus just dil kiya so keh diya.'

She also addressed Ugale directly: 'Rest in peace @sanchita_ugale, U would have done amazing in life and u knw tht.'

In the video, Channdola stressed that mental health struggles must be taken seriously and that no one should ignore or dismiss someone who reaches out for help. 'What may seem like a small issue to one person could be overwhelming for another,' she said.

What Jyothsna Said About Mental Pressure

'It doesn't mean that she is very weak or very strong, just that mentally she was not right at that moment, she did it. Mental pressure is a very big pressure. And I have been saying this before because we feel that if we react to small things, then many people say that why are you reacting to such a small thing, this is also something to react to,' Channdola said.

She reflected on her own inability to stay in regular contact with Ugale in the weeks before her death. 'For some time I felt that I was not able to talk to her for the past month because I couldn't talk to her, we couldn't talk every day,' she said, adding that she was not suggesting everyone must be in constant contact, but that when someone does reach out, their words should never be taken lightly.

'Maybe at some point she must have said something — that I am feeling very sad, I am feeling like this. Something normal. So how do we behave when someone says such things? We feel that this is not a bomb to get sad over small things, this is normal, this happens. No — the thing that is normal for one person may not be normal for another,' Channdola said.

Sanchita Ugale: Career and Legacy

Ugale was best known for playing Diya Tandon in 'Kumkum Bhagya' on Zee TV. She also appeared as Ruchita Jaitley in 'Wagle Ki Duniya' and went on to play the lead role of Sukoon in the Dangal TV show 'Dilwali Dulha Le Jayegi', opposite Sorab Bedi. On the big screen, she portrayed the younger version of Tara Rani in Vicky Kaushal's historical drama 'Chhaava', and also appeared in 'Silence 2: The Night Owl Bar Shootout', starring Manoj Bajpayee.

Channdola ended her message with a prayer: 'I really hope, and wish, whenever someone talks to you, if they share their problem, don't take it lightly.'

If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out to iCall at 9152987821 or Vandrevala Foundation Helpline at 1860-2662-345 (available 24/7).