The Doon school alumnus was killed earlier last month by two junior artistes she befriended on the sets of Madhur Bhandarkar's " Heroine ". The duo, Amit Jaiswal and Priti Surin, from UP, killed her in a bid to extort money from her family, as Thapa had told them that she belongs to a rich Nepalese family and acting was a hobby for her.

In reality, Thapa was a dancer by profession, and her father is employed with the ONGC. She started her career in Bollywood by doing bit roles, acting in "Saher" and "404", parts of which were shot in Doon.

Last year, after she was selected for "404", she'd told us, "I was lucky to land a meaty role as a newcomer. My parents too are happy.

Though they were apprehensive earlier, they are now open to the idea..

. I've been asked to move to Mumbai, which I am planning to do shortly.

I want to take a chance in Bollywood." Thapa also had a diploma in aviation from Frankfinn Institute, but she'd said that it was dance that fascinated her.

She was working as a dance teacher with St Joseph's Academy and Yeti Skates in Dehradun at the time, before moving to Mumbai. The acting bug took the MKP PG College graduate to Mumbai, where she met the two accused, Amit and Priti, both of whom reportedly hail from Allahabad.

According to reports in Allahabad papers, Amit Jaiswal (who's married and has two kids) ran a coaching centre in Allahabad, where Priti worked, and where the two came close. After Amit - whose father is a reputed lawyer in Allahabad - faced opposition from his family for his proximity to Priti - whose father is a school employee - they ran away to Mumbai in July 2011.

Amit only came back to Allahabad once after that, in September 2011, to meet his ailing father. He left again for Mumbai despite repeated requests to stay back, and told his family he was earning `16,000 per month in a bank.

But locals say that everyone knew that Lale (as Amit is known in the neighbourhood) was acting in Bhojpuri films in Mumbai, and that he always wanted a lavish lifestyle. Perhaps that's what pushed Amit and Priti to kill Thapa, who had shifted to Mumbai only two months back.

After befriending her, they took her to Gorakhpur in March this year on the pretext of work, where they allegedly beheaded her, while also asking for money from her family. Says Deven Bharti, additional commissioner of police, crime, Mumbai, "When Meenakshi became friends with Amit and Priti, she led them to believe that she came from an affluent family and was acting as a hobby.

As Amit and Priti needed money, they conspired to kidnap her and demand a ransom. They demanded `15 lakh from her family, but her mother could only arrange `60,000.

When they realised that Meenakshi was of no use to them, they killed her. They disposed her body in a water tank in Allahabad and threw her head out of a running bus.

We've sent a team to UP to find her severed body." Cops further stated that Meenakshi's brother Navraj had lodged a missing complaint a month ago in Mumbai, while her mother filed a complaint at a Dehradun police station.

Sanjay Satardekar, inspector, Mumbai, crime branch, said, "The accused have confessed to their crime, now we will further investigate the case, and once the charge sheet is filed, the two will be produced in court. Navraj in his statement told us that the accused used to send threatening messages and demand ransom through SMS.

We traced Meenakshi's mobile phone to track their location." Satardekar added that "After killing Meenakshi, the accused took her mobile and ATM card.

Once the `60,000 ransom money was trasferred to Meenakshi's account, they withdrew that money and went to Vaishno Devi." Prawaal Raman, "404"'s director, told us, "I do remember a very nervous girl on my set, for she was a local with no experience whom my team shortlisted for a small scene.

She shot with us for an hour or so, and managed to deliver. It's sad that she tried following her dream but fell victim to few who unfortunately believe in short cuts.

A lot of newcomers believe in immediately attaining a flashy lifestyle, without even bothering to focus on a substantial body of work." (With inputs from Garima Sharma, Anjali Nauriyal and Suruchi Sharma) (less)

Priti tells, ?I am back from Igatpuri as I was on a short holiday. The reason to visit Igatpuri was to attend a meditation camp of 10 days in which a person cannot utter a single word and has to be mute for all the 10 days.

A person cannot even ask something or express himself and his wants. He has to do everything on his own.

? ?But after coming back from the camp, I have experienced tremendous changes personally. It has really worked and has helped me to cope up with any disturbance.

It has sharpened my thinking. It has enabled me to decide about my goals without deviating.

Thus, with a fresh mind, I am back to work with abundant positive energy, ? signs off Priti. Well, Priti, in some or the other way, your meditation must be definitely helping you in essaying your on-screen character of Surili, who is also depicted as 'mute', isn?t it? (less)

She will start in her role in mid-June. Priti recently resigned from Studio 18/The Indian Film Company, where she was Sr Vice President Marketing, Distribution & Syndication.

During her tenure here, she oversaw the aggressive marketing and distribution campaigns for blockbuster films such as WELCOME, SINGH IS KINNG and GHAJINI and also unlocked hidden revenue for films by introducing the Satellite Rights syndication model with JAB WE MET [the first Hindi film to be syndicated across channels], which has now become the norm within the industry (less)

She worked very closely with key industry players to make Studio 18 / The Indian Film Company the premiere destination for all talent within the industry. Besides introducing & overseeing aggressive marketing/distribution campaigns for blockbuster films such as WELCOME, SINGH IS KINNG and GHAJINI, Priti was instrumental in unlocking hidden revenue for films; with JAB WE MET Priti pioneered the satellite rights syndication model which now has become the norm within the industry.

Having setup Studio 18 / The Indian Film Company on its journey ahead, Priti is set to move on to take up newer challenges and hasn't finalized her future plans yet, but is exploring various options. She is currently serving out her notice period with the company until March 31, 2010 (less)

And to make it worse K.C.

Bokadia has suddenly woken up with a long in-the-cans film Khuda Kasam . Earlier entitled The Challenge , the film was deemed as good as gone when it was miraculously revived.

When asked about it Tabu's terse reply is, "It's a film that was made 12 years ago." Sunny and Tabu were a hit pair in J P Dutta's Border .

But pretty much a flop in their other films together namely Maa Tujhe Salaam, Jaal The Trap and Himmat . Sunny defends the producer's right to release his film as and when he wants.

"It's his money, and his film. He can release it when he wants.

Who am I to object to it? People don't realize how much effort goes into a film and how painful it is to let a film remain in the cans." However Sunny and Tabu are unlikely to be promoting Khuda Kasam in any way.

Sunny Deol is going to be off action for a while. His next film is an out and out love story directed by Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru (of Lucky fame).

Sunny pairs with Kangna Ranaut in the film. Says the last action hero, "There will be no stunts, no action this time.

Sorry, if that disappoints my fans. This one is an out-and-out love story.

" Even the proposed action sequences that Sunny is about to shoot with his dad Dharmendra and brother Bobby for Samir Karnik's Yamla Pagla Deewana will be comic in nature. Just back from his surgery in the US Sunny Deol has begun to see the lighter side of putting his back repeatedly under the knife.

Says the last action hero, "Every time I go through surgery I think this is the last time. But I guess I should never say never again.

This comes from abusing my body. I refused to listen to the warning signals.

I continued to do tough stunts, play rigorous outdoor sports thinking it's just a back strain. Now I'm paying the price for it.

" Sunny says his back is repaired for now. "But who has seen tomorrow? I'd just like to be careful for now.

" (less)

"The proposal of B-Summary case was filed by the Versova police station investigating officer in the Andheri court, saying that the rape case filed by Priti Jain may be declared as false," Sushan Kunjuramansaid. B-Summary means that during the investigations, the investigating officer found Priti Jain's FIR to be false (less)

"So, for the same to be declared as false, the investigating officer presented the B-Summary before the court. Thereafter, Priti was issued a notice along with the copy of B-summary and directed to defend herself.

Priti filed return statement against B-summary, saying that it is not sustainable in rape cases." "After observing the written argument submitted by Priti Jain, the court upheld that the contention of Priti Jain and the FIR is genuine, and the process (of trial) can be issued against the accused (Bhandarkar)," said Kunjuraman.

The next hearing is slated for Dec 22. "On that day, Priti Jain's statement will be recorded.

She will also be submitting details of threatening SMSes sent to her by Madhur Bhandarkar, and some other evidences," said Kunjuraman. The aspiring actress had in her complaint to the police in 2004 alleged that Bhandarkar and she "had sex 16 times between 1999 and 2004".

"Madhur had promised to give me a lead role in his films. However, he didn't offer me a lead role in any of his movies.

At times when I refused, he raped me," she alleged in her complaint then. Bhandarkar made three films in the five years that he knew Jain -- "Chandni Bar", "Satta" and "Aan" -- and she complained that she had no role in any of them.

"Bhandarkar's forthcoming movie, 'Page 3', also does not feature me," she had told reporters soon after filing her case. Priti also claimed that Bhandarkar had promised to marry her and make her a star.

A city court Wednesday ruled that film maker Madhur Bhandarkar will stand trial for allegedly raping model-turned-actress Priti Jain, five years after her complaint to the police. The court's ruling came after it held that the first information report (FIR) Priti Jain filed against Bhandarkar was not false, as he had contended, Priti's counsel Sushan Kunjuraman said.

"The proposal of B-Summary case was filed by the Varsova police station investigating officer in the Andheri court, saying that the rape case filed by Priti Jain may be declared as false," Sushan Kunjuraman told IANS. B-Summary means that during the investigations, the investigating officer found Priti Jain's FIR to be false.

"So, for the same to be declared as false, the investigating officer presented the B-Summary before the court. Thereafter, Priti was issued a notice along with the copy of B-summary and directed to defend herself.

Priti filed return statement against B-summary, saying that it is not sustainable in rape cases." "After observing the written argument submitted by Priti Jain, the court upheld that the contention of Priti Jain and the FIR is genuine, and the process (of trial) can be issued against the accused (Bhandarkar)," said Kunjuraman.

The next hearing is slated for Dec 22. "On that day, Priti Jain's statement will be recorded.

She will also be submitting details of threatening SMSes sent to her by Madhur Bhandarkar, and some other evidences," said Kunjuraman. The aspiring actress had in her complaint to the police in 2004 alleged that Bhandarkar and she "had sex 16 times between 1999 and 2004".

"Madhur had promised to give me a lead role in his films. However, he didn't offer me a lead role in any of his movies.

At times when I refused, he raped me," she alleged in her complaint then. Bhandarkar made three films in the five years that he knew Jain -- "Chandni Bar", "Satta" and "Aan" -- and she complained that she had no role in any of them.

"Bhandarkar's forthcoming movie, 'Page 3', also does not feature me," she had told reporters soon after filing her case. Priti also claimed that Bhandarkar had promised to marry her and make her a star.

A city court Wednesday ruled that film maker Madhur Bhandarkar will stand trial for allegedly raping model-turned-actress Priti Jain, five years after her complaint to the police. The court's ruling came after it held that the first information report (FIR) Priti Jain filed against Bhandarkar was not false, as he had contended, Priti's counsel Sushan Kunjuraman said.

"The proposal of B-Summary case was filed by the Varsova police station investigating officer in the Andheri court, saying that the rape case filed by Priti Jain may be declared as false," Sushan Kunjuraman told IANS. B-Summary means that during the investigations, the investigating officer found Priti Jain's FIR to be false.

"So, for the same to be declared as false, the investigating officer presented the B-Summary before the court. Thereafter, Priti was issued a notice along with the copy of B-summary and directed to defend herself.

Priti filed return statement against B-summary, saying that it is not sustainable in rape cases." "After observing the written argument submitted by Priti Jain, the court upheld that the contention of Priti Jain and the FIR is genuine, and the process (of trial) can be issued against the accused (Bhandarkar)," said Kunjuraman.

The next hearing is slated for Dec 22. "On that day, Priti Jain's statement will be recorded.

She will also be submitting details of threatening SMSes sent to her by Madhur Bhandarkar, and some other evidences," said Kunjuraman. The aspiring actress had in her complaint to the police in 2004 alleged that Bhandarkar and she "had sex 16 times between 1999 and 2004".

"Madhur had promised to give me a lead role in his films. However, he didn't offer me a lead role in any of his movies.

At times when I refused, he raped me," she alleged in her complaint then. Bhandarkar made three films in the five years that he knew Jain -- "Chandni Bar", "Satta" and "Aan" -- and she complained that she had no role in any of them.

"Bhandarkar's forthcoming movie, 'Page 3', also does not feature me," she had told reporters soon after filing her case. Priti also claimed that Bhandarkar had promised to marry her and make her a star.

A city court Wednesday ruled that film maker Madhur Bhandarkar will stand trial for allegedly raping model-turned-actress Priti Jain, five years after her complaint to the police. The court's ruling came after it held that the first information report (FIR) Priti Jain filed against Bhandarkar was not false, as he had contended, Priti's counsel Sushan Kunjuraman said.

"The proposal of B-Summary case was filed by the Varsova police station investigating officer in the Andheri court, saying that the rape case filed by Priti Jain may be declared as false," Sushan Kunjuraman told IANS. B-Summary means that during the investigations, the investigating officer found Priti Jain's FIR to be false.

"So, for the same to be declared as false, the investigating officer presented the B-Summary before the court. Thereafter, Priti was issued a notice along with the copy of B-summary and directed to defend herself.

Priti filed return statement against B-summary, saying that it is not sustainable in rape cases." "After observing the written argument submitted by Priti Jain, the court upheld that the contention of Priti Jain and the FIR is genuine, and the process (of trial) can be issued against the accused (Bhandarkar)," said Kunjuraman.

The next hearing is slated for Dec 22. "On that day, Priti Jain's statement will be recorded.

She will also be submitting details of threatening SMSes sent to her by Madhur Bhandarkar, and some other evidences," said Kunjuraman. The aspiring actress had in her complaint to the police in 2004 alleged that Bhandarkar and she "had sex 16 times between 1999 and 2004".

"Madhur had promised to give me a lead role in his films. However, he didn't offer me a lead role in any of his movies.

At times when I refused, he raped me," she alleged in her complaint then. Bhandarkar made three films in the five years that he knew Jain -- "Chandni Bar", "Satta" and "Aan" -- and she complained that she had no role in any of them.

"Bhandarkar's forthcoming movie, 'Page 3', also does not feature me," she had told reporters soon after filing her case. Priti also claimed that Bhandarkar had promised to marry her and make her a star.

A city court Wednesday ruled that film maker Madhur Bhandarkar will stand trial for allegedly raping model-turned-actress Priti Jain, five years after her complaint to the police. The court's ruling came after it held that the first information report (FIR) Priti Jain filed against Bhandarkar was not false, as he had contended, Priti's counsel Sushan Kunjuraman said.

"The proposal of B-Summary case was filed by the Varsova police station investigating officer in the Andheri court, saying that the rape case filed by Priti Jain may be declared as false," Sushan Kunjuraman told IANS. B-Summary means that during the investigations, the investigating officer found Priti Jain's FIR to be false.

"So, for the same to be declared as false, the investigating officer presented the B-Summary before the court. Thereafter, Priti was issued a notice along with the copy of B-summary and directed to defend herself.

Priti filed return statement against B-summary, saying that it is not sustainable in rape cases." "After observing the written argument submitted by Priti Jain, the court upheld that the contention of Priti Jain and the FIR is genuine, and the process (of trial) can be issued against the accused (Bhandarkar)," said Kunjuraman.

The next hearing is slated for Dec 22. "On that day, Priti Jain's statement will be recorded.

She will also be submitting details of threatening SMSes sent to her by Madhur Bhandarkar, and some other evidences," said Kunjuraman. The aspiring actress had in her complaint to the police in 2004 alleged that Bhandarkar and she "had sex 16 times between 1999 and 2004".

"Madhur had promised to give me a lead role in his films. However, he didn't offer me a lead role in any of his movies.

At times when I refused, he raped me," she alleged in her complaint then. Bhandarkar made three films in the five years that he knew Jain -- "Chandni Bar", "Satta" and "Aan" -- and she complained that she had no role in any of them.

"Bhandarkar's forthcoming movie, 'Page 3', also does not feature me," she had told reporters soon after filing her case. Priti also claimed that Bhandarkar had promised to marry her and make her a star (less)

Vinay Sapru and Radhika Rao had earlier directed LUCKY with Salman Khan. The current film will be shot in Chicago later this year (less)

The action in our little drama revolves around the latter. Surendra Hiranandani Fifty-five-year-old Surendra is single, although not quite the eligible bachelor on the marriage market (they get notched up before they get there).

After their divorce in September last year, Priti (45), Surendra's wife of nearly three decades, hooked up with her old family friend Milan Mehta, a businessman. The couple tied the knot on December 28 last year.

Surendra was not to be left by himself either, and soon found cosy warmth in the company of Alka Kapoor, sister of Bollywood star Akshay Kumar. The couple has been making appearances in society for sometime now, and recently took off for a holiday in Turkey.

The first flush of new romance has not gone down too well with Alka's over-protective brother. 'The family isn't convinced about the relationship,' says a source close to the family.

'The siblings are very close and Akshay does not like to bring his family in the limelight. The Hiranandani divorce was not without the requisite trappings: the marriage was one of convenience for many years now, and the couple stuck it out for the children.

The cracks became irreparable two years ago when they decided to separate. Priti walked out of their apartment and lived in Renaissance Hotel, Powai, with her 18-year-old son Harsh for a year, till she hooked up with Milan.

The couple now lives in Santa Cruz. Society is clearly divided on their allegiances as well: after the Hiranandanis cut off all ties with Priti, close friends from her more privileged life from the past decided to walk away from her too.

Says a close friend of Priti, 'It's not surprising at all. Most of her friends were social acquaintances in any case.

But this has also given Priti the opportunity to sift grain from chaff. She is happy in her small new world.

' The separation may have cost Priti dear, as she cannot participate in her own daughter Neha's (25) wedding. The lavish three-day affair in Udaipur which will be dotted with celebrities and people in power is being put together by Surendra.

'Priti is not invited; in fact she was not allowed to come for the engagement ceremony some time ago,' says a family friend. We tried to get in touch with Priti, but were told that she is off on a week-long meditation session in Coimbatore, while Surendra refused to take our calls as he was busy with the wedding arrangements of his daughter.

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The aspiring actress had in her complaint to the police in 2004 alleged that Bhandarkar and she "had sex 16 times between 1999 and 2004". "Madhur had promised to give me a lead role in his films.

However, he didn't offer me a lead role in any of his movies. At times when I refused, he raped me," she had alleged then.

Bhandarkar made three films in the five years that he knew Jain -- Chandni Bar , Satta and Aan -- and she complained that she had no role in any of them. "Bhandarkar's forthcoming movie, Page 3 , also does not feature me," she had told reporters soon after filing her case.

Priti also claimed that Bhandarkar had promised to marry her and make her a star (less)