JIAH KHAN FOUND HANGING IN HER HOME:

Jiah Khan, real name Nafisa, was born in London on February 20, 1988. Her mother, Rabiya Amin, was a little-known actress in 1980s Bollywood, best remembered for appearing in Tahir Hussain's Dulha Bikta Nahin.

Young Nafisa studied film and literature in London and then moved to New York to attend the famed Lee Strasberg Academy of Dramatic Arts. She quit her acting course after landing a Bollywood role.

Now called Jiah Khan, her first film was meant to be Mahesh Bhatt's Tumsa Nahin Dekha (2004). Then just 16, Jiah backed out of the role of a strip dancer, feeling it was too mature for her, and was replaced by Dia Mirza.

She was then cast in Ram Gopal Varma's Nishabd which released in 2007. The Lolita-esque story was reportedly inspired by both Kevin Spacey film American Beauty and Rajesh Khanna's Anokha Rishta. The no-holds-barred Nishabd starred Jiah as a seductive teen who falls in love with her best friend's father, played by Amitabh Bachchan. The film shocked critics and cine-goers with its provocative content but Jiah herself was widely praised for her confidence, screen presence and appeal. She was nominated for a Filmfare Best Debut award and became known as Bollywood's next big thing.

Her next film was the superhit Ghajini (2008), starring Aamir Khan and Asin. Jiah played medical student Sunita who investigates and then befriends a mysterious businessman with amnesia.

Jiah was also cast opposite Shahid Kapoor in Chance Pe Dance and shot a large portion of the film before being replaced by Genelia D'Souza.

Jiah's third film was 2010 blockbuster Housefull, in which she played the third female lead with Deepika Padukone and Lara Dutta.

Jiah was signed for a two-film deal by UTV Motion Pictures and a three-film deal by Ghajini producer Madhu Mantena.

On June 3, Jiah was found dead in her Mumbai home. She reportedly committed suicide by hanging herself.

Beautiful Bollywood actress found dead

at home after telling friends: Everyone

believes I am a failure

• Jiah Khan was found hanged at her Mumbai home by her mother
• The 25-year-old is said to have been 'very depressed' about her career
• Khan was born in New York and raised in Chelsea, west London
• She last appeared in the hit comedy Housefull in 2010
• 
• Tragic: Bollywood actress Jiah Khan was reportedly found hanged in her apartment by her mother

The mother and sister of the actress are said to have gone out and she was alone at the apartment when the incident happened.

They found Jiah hanged when they returned home.

Fellow Bollywood stars and fans of the actress took to Twitter to express their shock at her death.

Ram Gopal Varma, who directed her debut film Nishabd, said that she had been 'very depressed' about her career.

She reportedly wanted to pursue a career in interior design when her acting career failed to meet its early potential.

The 25-year-old actress made her Bollywood debut in 2007, playing the 18-year-old female lead opposite one of India's leading actors, Amitabh Bachchan, in a film loosely based on Vladimir Nabokov's classic novel Lolita.

Filmmaker Varma wrote on Twitter: 'Never ever seen a debutant actress with more spunk and more spirit than Jiah when I was directing her in Nishabd.

Actress: The director of Miss Khan's breakthrough film said that when he last saw Jiah she was 'very depressed' about her film career

'I don't know the reason what led to this but Jiah was very depressed about her career and scared for her future,' he said in another tweet.

He added: 'The last time I met her Jiah told me that everyone around her makes her feel like a failure.'

Khan, whose real name was Nafisa Khan, was born in New York and grew up in Chelsea, London.

Talented: Jiah Khan pictured in 2003 aged 16. She was raised in Chelsea, west London and returned to her native New York to train as an actress at the age of 17

She returned to New York at the age of 17 to study acting, according to her website.

She had been dating Suraj Pancholi, son of Bollywood actor Aditya Pancholi, for around a year.

Police are reportedly questioning Suraj as he is said to have been the last person to see her alive.

Nishabd received mixed reviews and did not do well at the Bollywood box office but Khan went on to play supporting roles in two blockbusters, the psychological thriller Ghajini in 2008 and the comedy Housefull, her last role, in 2010.

Amitabh Bachchan tweeted his shock at the death of the actress.

He said: 'WHAT ...!!! Jiah Khan? What has happened? Is this correct? Unbelievable!!!'

choreographer Farah Khan tweeted: 'Can't register that Jiah is no more... Worked with her in Housefull and she was so beautiful and such a good soul. Too young to go Jiah.'

Bollywood actor Shahid Kapoor tweeted: 'Shocked n saddened to hear about jiah khan ... Very disturbing ... RIP ....may her soul rest in peace.'

According to Miss Khan's website, she was to play a part in a forthcoming Hollywood production.

As well as her Bollywood acting, she had appeared in an advert for animal campaign group PETA.

She was the daughter of Ali Rivzi Khan, an Indian-American actress who found fame in the 1980s.

Suraj and Aditya Pancholi left Juhu police station after being questioned for three hours in the Jiah Khan suicide case. Suraj, Jiah's friend, was the last person she spoke to before hanging herself on the night of June 3.

Actor Zulfi Syed accompanied Suraj and his father to the police station.

JIAH KHAN'S FINAL JOURNEY

Jiah Khan's last rites have been completed. The body of the 25-year-old starlet, who committed suicide at home on the night of June 3, was buried in the Santa Cruz graveyard in Mumbai.

This picture shows her funeral procession.

JIAH KHAN'S FINAL JOURNEY

Kingfisher scion Sidhartha Mallya and Sophie Choudry were present for the final farewell.

JIAH KHAN'S FINAL JOURNEY

Bollywood star Aamir Khan's wife Kiran Rao was also present at the funeral.

JIAH KHAN'S FINAL JOURNEY

Riteish Deshmukh, who worked with Jiah Khan in Housefull also attended the funeral.