Dangal Child Star Suhani Bhatnagar Dies at 19

The life of a flowering young talent with tremendous potential and onscreen charisma has been truncated in a most unfortunate manner. Suhani Bhatnagar who grabbed the spotlight with her performance as the pre-pubescent wrestling prodigy in the blockbuster sports biopic Dangal (2016,) passed away on the evening of Feb 16th, 2024 at the AIIMS Hospital in New Delhi. 

The 19-year-old starlet had reportedly been admitted into the medical centre on Feb 7th, 2024 with a leg fracture. But mounting complications during her treatment, involving the spread of fluid through her body, turned fatal. It seems even the world-class equipment and expertise of the medical institution couldn’t save poor Suhani. The deceased has become one of Bollywood’s youngest starlets to have prematurely bitten the dust, Jiah Khan being another mortality case at age 25.

Suhani attracted much attention and critical acclaim for her sole hit movie about a young farm hand who undergoes intensive training by her father in order to become a professional wrestler. All of 11 years old at the time, Suhani pulled off the role with flair which earned her a Star Screen Award for Best Child Actor. Thanks to her natural instinct for acting, she left quite an impression on Dangal’s director Nitesh Tiwari as well as her accomplished co-star Aamir Khan, who played her demanding patriarch. Furthermore, Suhani did true justice to the real life athlete – Babita Kumari – whom she was portraying.

The studio behind Dangal – Aamir Khan Productions – issued the following statement on X (formally Twitter), shortly after receiving the news of Suhani’s untimely demise: “We are deeply saddened to hear about our Suhani passing way. Our heartfelt condolences to her mother Poojaji and the entire family. Such a talented young girl, such a team-player. Dangal would have been incomplete without Suhani. Suhani, you will always remain a star in our hearts.”

Despite her early breakthrough in the film world, this young member of a Punjabi family from Faridabad, Haryana, did not sacrifice her schooling for an immediate career in Bollywood. Even though she maintained a private lifestyle, she continued to participate in events, fashion shows and shoots. Suhani had even kept busy with stage productions and music performances while a student at the local Delhi Public School. It is indeed tragic that with all her dedication to her craft, Suhani will never be able grace the silver screen ever again. However, her indelible image of little Babita is sure to live on in the hearts of filmi buffs.