Last rites of Taruni Sachdev performed amidst tears

The Paa child artist Taruni Sachdev and her mother were among 15 people who were killed in the Nepal Plane crash on Monday. The deceased duo were brought to Mumbai from Kathmandu on Wednesday following which the last rites took place at the Santa Cruz cremation ground at around 5.30 pm.

"We are still in state of shock...don't know what to say. I feel she was god's daughter, and has gone to God," Taruni's father told reporters.

Taruni's maternal uncle said, “Apni maa ke saath teerth yatra par gayi thi aur yeh sab ho gaya (She had gone on a pilgrimage with her mother). We are still in state of shock.”

Taruni was featured in almost 50 ads, including a commercial for Rasna, and she also did a cameo in Paa, apart from featuring in Malayalam films Vellinakshtram and Sathyam.

Though no celebrities attended the funeral yesterday, Vidya Balan, who essayed the role of Bachchan's mother in Paa, said, "I don't know how to react to this...to wake up to a news of Taruni passing away...It is very unfortunate for any parent to lose their child. And I really pray to God to give strength to her father to cope with this."

"I remember Balki (director of 'Paa') used to say that she (Taruni) is like a mature actor and you put her in any situation she will manage it," the actress said at an event.

Big B and son Abhishek also condoled her demise on micro-blogging site Twitter.