Two Marathi actors killed in road accident

Two eminent Marathi film and television actors and a child were killed when their car met with an accident on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, the police said.

Anand Abhyankar, 50, and Akshay Pendse, 33, were on their way to Mumbai last night, when their car collided with a Pune-bound tempo which lost control and crashed into the lane divider, Wadgaon Maval police sub-inspector Pradeep Suryavanshi said.

Both the actors and Akshay Pendse's two-year-old son Pratyush were killed while his wife suffered injuries in the accident.

Pendse's wife was admitted to Lokmanya hospital in Nigdi.

"The tempo driver has been arrested and a case has been registered under sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 279 of IPC against him," Suryavanshi added.

The duo were a part of many popular television serials including Mala Sasoo Havi.

Abhyankar had starred in several Marathi films like Spandan, Vastav, Pappa Sanga Kunache, Matichya Chuli, Balgandharva and also performed in play Kurtyat Sada Tingalam.

He had also acted in more than 15 Hindi television serials including Jis Desh Mein Ganga Rehta Hai, Pappu Can't Dance Saala and Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah.

Pendse acted in television serials and a few movies including Kai Dyayche Bola.

Photograph: Sahil Salve