Jiah Khan laid to rest amidst tears

Published June 6, 2013
Friends and relatives carry a coffin carrying the body of Bollywood actress Jiah Khan during her funeral in Mumbai, India, Wednesday, June 5, 2013. — AFP Photo
Friends and relatives carry a coffin carrying the body of Bollywood actress Jiah Khan during her funeral in Mumbai, India, Wednesday, June 5, 2013. — AFP Photo
In this Dec. 19, 2008 file photo, Bollywood actress Jiah Khan smiles during a promotional event of her forthcoming Hindi movie 'Ghajini' in Bangalore, India.— AP Photo
In this Dec. 19, 2008 file photo, Bollywood actress Jiah Khan smiles during a promotional event of her forthcoming Hindi movie 'Ghajini' in Bangalore, India.— AP Photo
Friends and relatives carry a coffin containing the body of Bollywood actress Jiah Khan during her funeral in Mumbai, India, Wednesday, June 5, 2013. — AP Photo
Friends and relatives carry a coffin containing the body of Bollywood actress Jiah Khan during her funeral in Mumbai, India, Wednesday, June 5, 2013. — AP Photo
Indian members of the media gather outside the residence of deceased Bollywood film actress Jiah Khan in Mumbai on June 4, 2013.— AFP Photo
Indian members of the media gather outside the residence of deceased Bollywood film actress Jiah Khan in Mumbai on June 4, 2013.— AFP Photo
Relatives of Bollywood actress Jiah Khan mourn during her funeral in Mumbai, India, Wednesday, June 5, 2013.— AP Photo
Relatives of Bollywood actress Jiah Khan mourn during her funeral in Mumbai, India, Wednesday, June 5, 2013.— AP Photo
Sidhartha Mallya, left, director of the Indian Premier League team Royal Challengers Bangalore leaves after the funeral of Bollywood actress Jiah Khan. — AP Photo
Sidhartha Mallya, left, director of the Indian Premier League team Royal Challengers Bangalore leaves after the funeral of Bollywood actress Jiah Khan. — AP Photo
Indian Bollywood film director Mahesh Batt addresses the media outside the residence of deceased Bollywood film actress Jiah Khan. — AFP Photo
Indian Bollywood film director Mahesh Batt addresses the media outside the residence of deceased Bollywood film actress Jiah Khan. — AFP Photo
In this photograph taken on June 29, 2012, Indian Bollywood actress Jiah Khan poses as she arrives for the unveiling of ‘The Pure Concept’ 2012, a luxury home decoration collection in Mumbai. — AFP Photo
In this photograph taken on June 29, 2012, Indian Bollywood actress Jiah Khan poses as she arrives for the unveiling of ‘The Pure Concept’ 2012, a luxury home decoration collection in Mumbai. — AFP Photo
Police men speak on a wireless radio as they stand outside a complex that houses the home of Bollywood actress Jiah Khan in Mumbai, India, Tuesday, June 4, 2013. — AP Photo
Police men speak on a wireless radio as they stand outside a complex that houses the home of Bollywood actress Jiah Khan in Mumbai, India, Tuesday, June 4, 2013. — AP Photo

Jiah Khan's body was brought to her Sagar Sangeet residence after postmortem around 7 am on June 5, and the burial took place in the afternoon.

Riteish Deshmukh, Sophie Choudry, Anju Mahendru, Prem Chopra, Urvashi Dholakia and the Panscholis — Aditya, Zarina Wahab and Suraj — were present at Jiah's home. But not all of them waited for the funeral procession to begin.

The actress' mother Rabiya and sisters were inconsolable. The last journey began around noon and headed for the Juhu cemetery, where Bollywood legends like Mohammad Rafi and Madhubala have been buried.

While industry seniors like Mahesh Bhatt and Raza Murad, and neighbours like Aloka Bedi (wife of Bollywood villain Ranjeet) and Deepak Parashar were the first ones to rush to her home, others came much later. Aamir Khan and his wife Kiran Rao came with some close friends and immediate family.

The actor had earlier told TOI that he was deeply pained to hear the tragic news because the young Jiah (his co-star in Ghajini) was a close family friend.

When Aditya arrived to offer condolences, he drove over a couple of tripods and a fracas ensued. Some media persons snatched his car keys and there was a heated exchange between the actor and the press. Of course, the sobriety of the occasion stopped tempers from flaring up further. And gloom once again descended as Jiah's body left on her last journey.

Earlier, on Tuesday afternoon, Suraj was questioned by the cops at Juhu police station. A friend of the Panscholis said, "Suraj responded to all the queries, starting from his first meeting with Jiah to his last interaction with her. He was allowed to leave after two hours."

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