Family says Mumbai-raised actress died in her sleep on July 15 after facing physical and mental difficulties for over a year

MUMBAI: Indian actress Ananya Raj has died at the age of 27, with her family confirming her death several weeks later through a statement posted on her official Instagram account.

According to the family, Raj died in her sleep during the early hours of July 15. The statement said she had faced physical and mental difficulties for more than a year but continued to confront those challenges with determination.

Her family described Raj as strong-willed and said she fought bravely to overcome the difficulties she experienced. They also requested privacy while mourning and asked fans and well-wishers to remember the actress in their prayers.

Ananya Raj Built Career Across Film Industries

Raised in Mumbai, Raj entered the entertainment industry through films and music videos before building a career across Hindi and regional cinema.

She made her Hindi film debut in 2016 with 7 Hours to Go, appearing under the name Ananya Sengupta. Subsequently, she appeared in The Final Exit in 2017 and the horror film Ghost in 2019.

Meanwhile, Raj expanded her career into South Indian cinema and appeared in the Telugu production Thaggede Le.

She was also associated with Madrasi Gang, which was being developed as a trilingual production in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi.

Film Industry Pays Tribute to Young Actress

Raj had publicly discussed her ambitions for South Indian cinema during a 2022 interview, highlighting several projects she hoped would strengthen her presence in the industry.

However, her death at 27 has brought those ambitions to an abrupt end.

Following confirmation from her family, tributes began appearing from sections of the Indian entertainment industry and fans.

The All Indian Cine Workers Association also paid tribute to Raj, joining colleagues and admirers in mourning the young actress.

Her family has urged the public to respect their privacy during the difficult period while remembering her life, work and contribution to Indian entertainment.