Taruni Sachdev was an Indian child actress and model. She made her film debut in 2004 with Vellinakshatram, which endeared her to Malayalam audiences. The same year, she appeared in Sathyam. Her last film was Vetri Selvan, which was released two years after her death. She died in the Agni Air Dornier 228 crash near Jomsom Airport in Nepal. Her mother also died in the crash.
Personal life
Taruni Sachdev was born on 14 May 1998 in Mumbai, India, to industrialist Haresh Sachdev and Geeta Sachdev. She studied to class nine at Bai Avabai Framji Petit Girls' High School.
Career
Sachdev had dreamt of becoming a heroine. In 2004, she made her debut in Vinayan's comedy-horrorVellinakshatram. Vinayan said Vellinakshatram endeared Sachdev to Malayalam audiences. The same year, Sachdev appeared in the action thrillerSathyam. Director Vinayan had spotted Sachdev in an advertisement with Amitabh Bachchan and contacted Bachchan's manager to cast Sachdev in his films. He recalls: "We were all amazed by the manner in which she performed. She was just five then and could render Malayalam dialogues after listening to it for a couple of times. I still remember the intensity with which she performed in the climax of the film, where even senior actors found it difficult to work against high-speed propellers". In 2009, Sachdev appeared in R. Balki's comedy-dramaPaa, where she starred as Somi, Amitabh Bachchan's classmate. According to India Today, she "shot to fame" after appearing in the film. Besides acting, Sachdev appeared in more than fifty commercials, including television advertisements for Colgate, ICICI Bank, Saffola oil, and Kesar Badam Milk. She is best remembered for doing Rasna commercials with the actressKarisma Kapoor, and was nicknamed the "Rasna girl". She also appeared on the television game showKya Aap Paanchvi Pass Se Tez Hain?. Her last film was the Tamil drama-thriller Vetri Selvan, which was released in 2014. Sachdev had completed most of her part; director Rudhran stated that her footage would be retained "as a remembrance of the prodigy" and that the rest of her role would be patched up during the post-production.
Death
Before Taruni left for a month-long trip to Nepal, on 11 May 2012, she hugged all of her friends and told them: "I'm meeting you guys for the last time". When her friend asked her why, she replied with " just joking". Taruni had never hugged her friends or said goodbye before leaving for her earlier holidays. Taruni died in the Agni AirDornier 228 crash near Jomsom Airport in Nepal, on 14 May 2012. Taruni's mother Geetha Sachdev, who accompanied her on the flight also died. Before boarding the flight, Taruni messaged her friend, "jokingly asking what would happen if the plane crashed" and she also sent her last message saying "I love you". Taruni's and her mother's body was brought to Kathmandu and then to Mumbai. Both of them were cremated in Mumbai on 16 May 2012.
