12 years after Jiah Khan's death, her boyfriend Sooraj Pancholi's mother Zarina Wahab, reveals the missed call that haunts him even today

Economic Times

21-05-2025

Sooraj Pancholi faced accusations after Jiah Khan's death in 2013. His mother, Zarina Wahab, reveals the couple had broken up a month prior. Jiah was upset about losing a film role. On the day of her death, she tried to contact Sooraj, who was in class. Sooraj is now acquitted and is preparing for his new film, Kesari Veer.
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Sooraj Pancholi's life changed forever on June 3, 2013, when his then-girlfriend, actress Jiah Khan, was discovered dead in her Mumbai home. The incident triggered an unrelenting media frenzy and a prolonged legal battle, as the young actor—then preparing for his much-awaited Bollywood debut—was accused of abetting her suicide.What followed were ten emotionally draining years that tested his family's strength and resilience. In 2023, a special court under the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) declared Sooraj not guilty due to insufficient evidence.Now, in an emotional and candid conversation with Nayandeep Rakshit, Sooraj's mother, veteran actress Zarina Wahab, has opened up about the darkest period of their lives—revealing deeply personal insights into her son's emotional state, his relationship with Jiah, and the heartbreaking events leading to the tragedy.Zarina clarified a long-standing misconception—that Sooraj and Jiah were no longer romantically involved at the time of her death. She disclosed that the couple had ended their relationship a month earlier, following pressure from both families.'People don't know that he had told her they should part ways because neither of their families supported the relationship,' Zarina said. 'She asked if she could still visit him occasionally. He replied, 'You can come as a friend, but not as a girlfriend.' That was the last real conversation they had.'Adding more context, Zarina shared that Jiah had been deeply disappointed over losing a lead role in a Telugu film, which ultimately went to Rakul Preet Singh. The rejection reportedly left her emotionally shattered. 'She was supposed to travel south for that role, but they turned her down at the last minute. She was very low,' Zarina said, recalling how Sooraj had even sent her flowers to lift her spirits during that period.On the day of Jiah's death, Zarina revealed a heartbreaking detail: Jiah had attempted to reach Sooraj, but he was attending acting classes at the time. 'He couldn't answer her calls. Later, he texted her, saying he was free now, but by then, it was too late.'Refuting the harsh accusations hurled at her son over the years, Zarina said, 'Everyone has formed opinions, but very few know the real story. What happened was tragic, and people misunderstood my son. He endured so much.'Sooraj himself later opened up in an interview, crediting Salman Khan for standing by him unconditionally. 'Salman sir just asked, 'Did you do anything wrong?' I said no, and he never questioned me again,' Sooraj recalled.Having been acquitted in April 2023, Sooraj is now preparing for his return to the big screen with Kesari Veer, based on the life of warrior Hamirji Gohil. The film is slated to release on May 23.