Do you remember the young actor from the Bollywood film Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. who attempted suicide after failing to win over the girl he loved? Sanjay Dutt, playing the character of Munna Bhai, came to console him during the film’s popular song, “Apun Jaisa Tapori.” Although the role was brief, Vishal Thakkar—the actor who portrayed the character—became a familiar face after the movie. Following the 2003 superhit Munna Bhai M.B.B.S., Vishal went on to build a career in films and television. He worked in the film ‘Tango Charlie’ as well as popular television serials like ‘Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah’, ‘Thapki Pyar Ki’, ‘Aahat’, and ‘Kis Desh Mein Hai Meraa Dil’. He became a popular face in the television industry and took on one project after another.
However, in January 2016, Vishal’s life took a mysterious turn. He suddenly vanished without a trace. Ten years have passed since then, yet there is no clear information about him. Vishal would be 40 years old now. December 31, 2015—the night before Vishal disappeared. According to media reports, he was at his home in Mulund that day. He asked his mother, Durga, to join him at the cinema to watch Star Wars: The Force Awakens, but she declined. She later regretted this decision, as it turned out to be the last time she saw her son. Around 10:30 PM, Vishal borrowed ₹500 from his mother and left the house. Some time later, around 1:00 AM, he sent a message to his father, Mahendra, saying, “I am going to a party. See you tomorrow.” That was the last contact Vishal had with his family. He could not be found the next morning; he was 30 years old at the time.
Three years after the incident, in 2019, his mother Durga said in an interview with the media, “I have no information about what happened to my son.” According to the police, Vishal had spent New Year’s Eve with his girlfriend at a resort on the Ahmedabad Highway. On their way back, they stopped at Fountain Hotel for tea. There, Vishal told his girlfriend he was going to meet a friend in Andheri and left. She subsequently tried to locate him but was unsuccessful; his phone remained switched off thereafter. Investigating officer Jaywant Padvi had informed the media in 2016 that there was no information regarding his whereabouts. Police records indicate that Vishal was last seen around 11:45 AM on January 1st, when he took an auto-rickshaw to Andheri—presumably for a shoot. His last call data was recorded near Ghodbunder Road. Subsequently, the investigation was transferred from Mulund Police Station to Kasarvadavali Police Station. At approximately 12:10 AM on the 1st, Vishal posted New Year’s greetings on Facebook; this was his final social media post. Afterward, his phone was switched off and was never turned on again. No calls were received regarding a kidnapping, nor were there any calls from hospitals concerning him. His phone could not be recovered either.
His bank account remained inactive after he went missing, leaving investigators with no further leads to trace him. Inspector N.A. Kulkarni stated that it was unclear whether the case involved murder, kidnapping, or a voluntary disappearance. Three months before Vishal went missing, his then-girlfriend (a television actress) had filed a case of rape and harassment against him. Vishal’s family clarified that the matter was subsequently resolved and the complaint withdrawn. The family believes that this incident had left Vishal emotionally distressed. His acting career was affected following the allegation; the police stated that he was suffering from depression due to a lack of work opportunities. The woman who had filed the case against Vishal passed away at her flat in Kandivali; reports at the time attributed her death to a heart attack. By 2019, the case had been handed over to Constable Rajesh Pandey, who had gained considerable renown for locating hundreds of missing persons in Mumbai. However, he found no leads regarding Vishal.
