Taruni Sachdev was born on 14 May 1998 in Mumbai, India, to industrialist Haresh Sachdev and Geeta Sachdev. She studied to class nine at Bai Avabai Framji Petit Girls’ High School.

Sachdev had dreamt of becoming a heroine. In 2004, she made her debut in Vinayan’s comedy-horror Vellinakshatram. Vinayan said Vellinakshatram endeared Sachdev to Malayalam audiences. The same year, Sachdev appeared in the action thriller Sathyam.

In 2009, Sachdev appeared in R. Balki’s comedy-drama Paa, where she starred as Somi, Amitabh Bachchan’s classmate. According to India Today, she “shot to fame” after appearing in the film.

Before Taruni left for a month-long trip to Nepal, on 11 May 2012, she hugged all of her friends and told them: “I’m meeting you guys for the last time”. When her friend asked her why, she replied with “[I’m] just joking”. Taruni had never hugged her friends or said goodbye before leaving for her earlier holidays. Taruni died in the Agni Air Dornier 228 crash near Jomsom Airport in Nepal, on 14 May 2012. Taruni’s mother Geetha Sachdev, who accompanied her on the flight also died.

Before boarding the flight, Taruni messaged her friend, “jokingly asking what would happen if the plane crashed” and she also sent her last message saying “I love you”. Taruni’s and her mother’s body was brought to Kathmandu and then to Mumbai. Both of them were cremated in Mumbai on 16 May 2012.

Her last film was the Tamil drama-thriller Vetri Selvan, which was released in 2014. Sachdev had completed most of her part; director Rudhran stated that her footage would be retained “as a remembrance of the prodigy” and that the rest of her role would be patched up during the post-production.