Bengaluru: A 26-year-old Kannada television actress, C M Nandini, was found dead at a paying guest (PG) accommodation in Bengaluru in the early hours of Monday, with police stating that her diary entries indicated deep emotional distress linked to family pressure over her career choices.
The incident occurred at Insta Living PG in Mylasandra, Kengeri, where Nandini had been residing since August 2025. According to the police, she was found unresponsive in her room around 3.45 am, prompting the registration of a case of unnatural death. Preliminary investigations suggest that she was under considerable mental stress related to disagreements with her family regarding her decision to continue acting instead of taking up a government job.
Background and family details
Nandini was the elder daughter of S Mahabaleshwar, a government school teacher who passed away in 2021, and G R Basavarajeshwari, who is also a government school teacher. The family hails from Kotturu in Vijayanagara district.
After completing her pre-university education in Ballari in 2018, Nandini enrolled in a Bachelor of Engineering course at RR Institute in Hesaraghatta, Bengaluru. However, police said she gradually stopped attending college regularly as her interest shifted towards acting. She subsequently began professional acting training in the Rajarajeshwari Nagar area of Bengaluru.
Since 2019, Nandini had been associated with various Kannada television serials and had been living independently in PG accommodations in different parts of the city while pursuing her career in the entertainment industry.
Job offer and family conflict
Following the death of her father, Nandini was offered a government job on compassionate grounds at a taluk office in 2023. According to the police, her family was keen that she accept the position, citing job security and stability.
However, Nandini reportedly refused the offer, expressing a strong desire to continue her acting career. Investigators said this decision became a major source of tension within the family. Diary entries recovered from her room reportedly reflect her emotional struggle and the pressure she felt to give up acting and conform to her family’s expectations.
Police sources said the diary did not name any individual as responsible but conveyed her sense of conflict, helplessness and emotional exhaustion over the issue.
Events leading up to the incident
On December 28, Nandini is said to have visited the house of her boyfriend, Puneet, in the evening. She returned to the PG facility at approximately 11.23 pm and locked herself inside room number 202.
When Puneet was unable to reach her over the phone later that night, he alerted the PG manager Kumar and the in-charge, Kiran, at around 11.50 pm. The staff attempted to contact her but received no response.
According to the police, when the door was eventually opened, Nandini was found unresponsive inside the room. Kiran immediately contacted the emergency helpline 112, following which personnel from the Kengeri police station arrived at the scene. She was declared dead at the spot.
Her mother was informed without delay and arrived at the PG premises with relatives at around 8 am on Monday.
Police investigation and statements
The police said no external injuries were found on the body, and there were no signs of foul play at the scene. Nandini’s mother reportedly told investigators that she did not suspect anyone of being directly responsible for her daughter’s death.
“She was under emotional stress due to differences within the family over her career path. We are not blaming anyone,” her mother is said to have stated in her preliminary statement to the police.
Based on the available evidence, including the diary entries, the police have registered a case of unnatural death and are continuing further investigation to complete procedural formalities. Officials said they are also recording statements from friends, PG staff and others who were in contact with her in recent days.
A broader concern
The death of the young actress has once again drawn attention to the pressures faced by aspiring artistes, particularly women, who often struggle to balance personal ambitions with family expectations. Industry colleagues and acquaintances have expressed shock over the incident, noting that Nandini was passionate about acting and had worked steadily in television over the past few years.
Conclusion
As investigations continue, Nandini’s death has sparked conversations about mental health, career-related stress and the importance of emotional support for young professionals navigating difficult choices. Police have reiterated the need for families and society to remain sensitive to such pressures, while urging anyone experiencing emotional distress to seek timely help and counselling.
