Guru Dutt died at 39 from a mix of alcohol and sleeping pills. Whether it was a deliberate suicide — reportedly his third such episode — or an accidental overdose has never been conclusively established.
- Date
- 10 October 1964
- Cause
- Alcohol and sleeping pills
- Verdict
- Undetermined — accident or suicide
Guru Dutt was found dead in his flat on 10 October 1964. He had been drinking and had taken sleeping pills; the combination killed him. It is widely reported that he had made earlier attempts on his life, which coloured how the death was read.
No definitive verdict was ever reached on whether the final overdose was intentional or accidental, and biographers remain divided. What is not disputed is that it came after years of depression, heavy drinking and personal unhappiness.
Sources
This page is an informational summary drawn from public reporting. Sensitive or disputed incidents are described as alleged; legal matters reflect the outcomes reported at the time, and the canonical account always rests with the linked sources.