Pratyusha Banerjee was an Indian television actress, best known for portraying the adult Anandi in the Colors TV serial Balika Vadhu. Born in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, she rose to prominence in 2010 after replacing Avika Gor in the lead role of one of the most-watched Hindi television dramas of its time. She died in Mumbai on 1 April 2016.
| Full name | Pratyusha Banerjee |
|---|---|
| Born | 10 August 1991, Jamshedpur, Jharkhand |
| Died | 1 April 2016, Mumbai, Maharashtra |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation | Television actress |
| Years active | 2009–2016 |
| Notable role | Anandi in Balika Vadhu |
| Television channel | Colors TV |
Pratyusha Banerjee was born into a Bengali family in Jamshedpur, then in Bihar (now Jharkhand). She was the only child of Shankar Banerjee and Soma Banerjee. She completed her schooling in Jamshedpur before moving to Mumbai to pursue a career in acting.
Banerjee began her television career with minor appearances before being cast in Balika Vadhu, produced by Sphere Origins for Colors TV. She took over the role of the adult Anandi in 2010, succeeding child actress Avika Gor. The serial dealt with the social issue of child marriage in Rajasthan and was among the highest-rated Indian television programmes during her tenure. She played the character until 2013.
After leaving Balika Vadhu, she appeared in the supernatural drama Ballika Vadhu – Anandi Ka Safar, and featured in the historical fiction series Sasural Simar Ka in a brief role. In 2013, she was a contestant on the reality show Bigg Boss 7, hosted by Salman Khan on Colors TV, where she finished as one of the finalists. She subsequently participated in dance and stunt-based reality formats and made cameo appearances on television.
Banerjee was found dead at her residence in the Kandivali area of Mumbai on 1 April 2016, at the age of 24. The Mumbai Police registered a case and her death was widely reported in Indian media. The incident generated significant public discussion about mental health and the working conditions of young performers in the Indian television industry.
As the adult Anandi, Banerjee became one of the recognisable faces of Hindi general entertainment television in the early 2010s. Balika Vadhu, which ran on Colors TV from 2008 to 2016, was credited with bringing mainstream attention to the issue of child marriage, and Banerjee's portrayal contributed to the show's continued popularity during its middle phase. Her death prompted industry bodies and fan communities to call for greater attention to mental health support for television actors.