Television actress Sanchita Ugale, who rose to fame with her portrayal of Diya Tandon in the popular Zee TV daily soap Kumkum Bhagya, passed away at the age of 30 on Monday. According to reports, she allegedly died by suicide, leaving friends, family and colleaguess across the entertainment industry in disbelief.

Ugale, who had built a reputation for her versatile performances on television and in films, was regarded as one of the promising faces of the small screen. The news of her untimely demise spread rapidly on social media, and fellow actors as well as admirers paid tributes to her. 

Co-star confirms development

Sanchita’s Dilwali Dulha Le Jayegi co-star Richa Soni confirmed the news during an interaction with an entertainment media outlet. She expressed disbelief and grief, saying that she was yet to come to terms with the reports and feared they might be false. 

Soni further said she received confirmation only after being contacted by a fellow cast member from the show. The actress added she was shocked and deeply saddened by the development, recalling her close professional association with Ugale. 

Sanchita essayed diverse roles in her career

Over the years, Ugale carved a niche for herself through remarkable performances in several television projects. Apart from Kumkum Bhagya, she was recognised for playing Ruchita Jaitley in Wagle ki Duniya and was also associated with the Dangal TV programme Dilwali Dulha Le Jayegi alongside actor Sorab Bedu. 

Apart from small screen projects, she featured in the historical drama Chhaava, portraying the younger version of Tara Rani and also appeared in Manoj Bajpayee’s crime thriller, ‘Silence 2: The Night Owl Bar Shootout.’

She boasted a strong presence on social media, where she had garnered a sizable following. Just hours before the news of her death surfaced, she had shared a light-hearted video on Instagram, which has since drawn emotional reactions from fans. 

Ugale detailed on challenges associated with acting

Notably, in an interview conducted in 2025, Ugale had spoken candidly about the challenges of balancing professional commitments with personal well-being. She said long shooting schedules often left little time for rest, family or self-care. 

She said she hailed from a lower-middle class background and shared how she initially hesitated to disclose her acting ambitions to her family. However, over time, their support grew as she established herself in the industry.