SOORAJ Pancholi is an Indian film actor for Bollywood and Hindi films.
He was in a relationship with Jiah Khan at the time of her death, which has made some suspicious of whether he was involved.
Who is Sooraj Pancholi?
Sooraj Pancholi is a 30-year-old born in Mumbai, India.
The Bollywood actor landed his first big role in the movie Hero; his role earned him a Filmfare award for Best Newcomer.
His parents, Zarina Wahab and Aditya Pancholi, are also actors.
In 2013 he dated fellow actress Jiah Khan.
By June of that year she had died after committing suicide.
However, her suicide note cited the couple’s relationship as a reason for her death, leading to the arrest of Sooraj.
In 2018 he was formally charged with abetting the suicide. The case is still ongoing.
Where is Sooraj Pancholi now?
Sooraj hasn’t been credited on a TV show or film since 2019.
He will next appear in BBC Two’s new three-part documentary Death in Bollywood.
It will look at the circumstances surrounding Jiah’s death.
In the second episode, Sooraj denied driving her to suicide.
The final episode will air TONIGHT (January 12) at 9pm.
What has he said about Jiah Khan’s death?
Sooraj has always maintained his innocence, and that doesn’t change in the new BBC documentary.
In the past he’s issued a statement on the events, saying: “Not even five per cent of what the media has written about me till date is true.
“They have heard the story only from one side. They have never heard my version, because I never claimed I am innocent to gain people’s sympathy.
“I only want the truth to come out and the media cannot give me that. Media can’t get me justice, only the court can give me that.
“So, I have been waiting for the court to take the decision and a lot of time has elapsed. This is my career, my bread and butter.
“So, I have to speak out because what is happening is wrong.”
Allegedly Sooraj argued with Jiah before she died and was the last person to speak to her. According to the CBI, he disposed of evidence and removed messages between the couple from his phone that evening.
He was allegedly also “unwilling to disclose relevant facts” to police and there were suspicious signs at the scene.
When a six-page letter emerged addressed to Sooraj, her family began to suspect foul play, suggesting that Jiah was murdered “and then hanged to make it look like suicide”.
