Actress Ananya Raj dies at 27 after year-long health battle

Actress Ananya Raj, known for films including 'Ghost' and '7 Hours to Go', died at 27 on July 15. Her family confirmed the news through her Instagram on Sunday, nearly a month after her death. They said she passed away peacefully in her sleep after struggling with physical and mental discomfort for over a year.

In a statement, her family called her a "strong-spirited girl" who "fought like a warrior" and asked for privacy. The All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) paid tribute, calling her death a loss for the film fraternity. Republic World reported that the family waited a month before announcing the death to grieve privately.

Ananya Raj debuted in Bollywood with the 2016 thriller '7 Hours to Go' and later appeared in 'The Final Exit' (2017) and Vikram Bhatt's horror film 'Ghost' (2019), according to Republic World. She also worked in Telugu cinema, featuring in 'Thaggede Le' (2022), and appeared in music videos for labels such as T-Series and Zee Music, as per Deccan Chronicle.