A 26-year-old television actress allegedly died by suicide at a paying guest (PG) accommodation in Bengaluru early on Monday. Police said they found diary entries in which she had written about the emotional stress she was facing due to family pressure to quit acting and take up a government job.
The actress, identified as CM Nandini, was found dead in her room at Insta Living PG in Mylasandra, under the Kengeri police limits, around 3.45 am. Nandini was the elder daughter of S Mahabaleshwar, a government school teacher who passed away in 2021, and G R Basavarajeshwari, also a government school teacher. The family hails from Kotturu in Vijayanagara district, according to a report by The Indian Express.
Who was Nandini?
After completing her pre-university studies in Ballari in 2018, Nandini joined a BE course at RR Institute in Hesaraghatta, Bengaluru. However, she later stopped attending classes regularly and chose to pursue acting.
She underwent acting training in Rajarajeshwari Nagar and, since 2019, worked in several Kannada television serials while staying in PG accommodations, the report mentioned.
Refusal of compassionate government job
Following her father’s death, Nandini was offered a government job on compassionate grounds at a taluk office in 2023. Police said she refused the offer despite her family’s insistence, as she wanted to continue her acting career. She moved to Insta Living PG in August 2025.
Originally from Kottur, Nandini had been living in Bengaluru for work. She started her career with supporting roles in Kannada TV and appeared in popular serials like Jeeva Hoovagide, Sangharsha, Madhumagalu, and Neenade Naa. Over the years, she became a familiar and trusted face in the Kannada television industry.
Her move to Tamil TV marked a new phase in her career, with Gowri giving her wider recognition and appreciation from viewers. Colleagues described her as hardworking and passionate, making her death all the more heartbreaking for those who worked with her.
What happened on the day Nandini was found dead
According to the police, on December 28, Nandini visited her boyfriend, Puneet, at his home in the evening and returned to the PG around 11.23 pm. She then locked herself inside room number 202. When Puneet was unable to contact her over the phone, he alerted the PG manager Kumar and in-charge Kiran around 11.50 pm. They went to her room but got no response. After breaking open the door, they found Nandini dead inside the room, IE reported.
Kiran immediately called the emergency helpline 112, following which the Kengeri police reached the spot. Nandini was declared dead at the scene. Her mother was informed, and she arrived at the PG with relatives around 8 am.
Police said Nandini’s diary mentioned her distress over family pressure to accept the government job instead of continuing in the acting field. Her mother told the police that she did not suspect anyone in connection with her daughter’s death and stated that it was a suicide linked to family disagreements over career choices.
A case of unnatural death has been registered, and further investigation is under way.
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