'Jhund' Actor Priyanshu Thakur Murdered by Friend in Nagpur: Stabbed, Bound and Left to Die

Priyanshu Thakur, known for his role as 'Babu Chhetri' in Amitabh Bachchan's film 'Jhund', was brutally attacked by his friend in Nagpur, resulting in his tragic death.

Mumbai/Nagpur:

A 21-year-old actor from the acclaimed Amitabh Bachchan film 'Jhund' met a tragic end on Wednesday in Nagpur when he was violently assaulted by a friend and abandoned to die. Priyanshu Thakur, who gained recognition for his performance as 'Babu Chhetri' in the 2022 film, was discovered severely injured and succumbed to his wounds while being transported to hospital.

According to police reports, Thakur's friend Dhruv Sahu, 20, visited him at his residence in north Nagpur's Nara Basti area during the early hours of Wednesday. The pair then proceeded to a secluded location in the vicinity where they began consuming alcohol and subsequently became involved in a heated dispute.

During police interrogation, Sahu claimed that Thakur had threatened his life, provoking him to stab the actor and strike him on the head with a stone in a moment of uncontrolled anger. Sahu further admitted to binding Thakur with wire to prevent him from seeking police assistance or medical treatment before fleeing the scene.

At approximately 3 am on Wednesday, local residents discovered Thakur suffering from stab wounds and head trauma, prompting them to alert authorities. Investigators found a blood-stained stone near the victim.

Thakur's sister Shilpa filed a formal complaint identifying Sahu as the suspected perpetrator. In a statement to NDTV, Senior Inspector Arun Kshirsagar confirmed: "Sahu has confessed to the crime."

Priyanshu Thakur had performed alongside Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan in 'Jhund', a film based on the life of Vijay Barse, founder of the NGO Slum Soccer. Thakur received critical praise for his performance in the movie.

It was noted that shortly after the film's release, Thakur had been arrested in connection with the theft of Rs 5 lakh.