Uday Kiran suicide: enter woman financier

She reportedly lent Rs. 15 lakh for an upcoming Telugu film starring the actor

A distraught Vishitha holds a picture of her husband and actor Uday Kiran while his body was kept for public viewing at Jubilee Hills on Tuesday. - Photo: Mohammed Yousuf

Police are verifying reports that a woman financier, who had arranged nearly Rs. 15 lakh for an upcoming film starring Uday Kiran, had enquired with the actor over the film’s release a few weeks before his death.

While investigation so far point to factors like dwindling film opportunities and pecuniary problems as possible reasons for the actor’s suicide, police have been talking to all those associated with him.

Among them is Kiran’s former manager Munna, who was purportedly producing a Telugu film with the actor in the lead role. The woman financier had reportedly loaned Rs. 15 lakh for the movie. Investigators will now question Munna on the matter.

The woman, reportedly accompanied by a lawyer, had met Kiran at his flat in Srinagar Colony three weeks ago.

“What transpired at the meeting is yet to be ascertained as we have got different versions. Some said the woman had inquired about the progress and release of the movie as the interest rate on the money loaned was piling up,” police sources said.

Informants also told police that some financiers had tried to indirectly mount pressure on the actor for the return of money.

“Surely, we cannot attribute the actor’s death to a single factor. No individual can also be made responsible,” the investigators said.

To ensure all angles are thoroughly probed, police made verifications about the actor’s personal life and moods by speaking to his wife, in-laws and friends.

The scars on his wrists could also be construed as signs of having attempted suicide earlier.

“He reportedly attempted suicide a few years before he got married to Vishitha. He had himself told his in-laws of the scars,” police sources said.

When Vishitha’s parents wanted to know of his mental disposition before consenting to the marriage, the actor had vowed not to resort to the extreme step again, police found during their questioning.

Meanwhile, they also learnt that Uday Kiran had sent a message to his wife via WhatsApp hours before his death. His wife had replied to the message but these weren’t to be found in the actor’s call data record.