Influencer and makeup artist Mad Sandhu shot dead; search on for suspects

CHANDIGARH: Mad Sandhu, a prominent LGBTQ personality, influencer and makeup artist from Punjab, was shot dead in Amritsar. According to the police, two unidentified men who arrived on a bike opened fire at Sandhu around 6 pm on Saturday. Sandhu was found lying in a pool of blood on the road and died while being taken to hospital.

Soon after the incident, a post appeared on a Facebook account named ‘Goldy Dhillon’, claiming responsibility for the murder. The post alleged that Sandhu had “spoiled Punjab”. Police said they are also examining the post as part of the investigation.

Mad Sandhu, whose real name was Madhusudan, began his career as a stylist in the fashion industry and later worked as a costume designer for Punjabi and Bollywood films. He gained popularity through Instagram reels and viral videos. He was known for speaking openly about makeup, lifestyle, cinema and pop culture, as well as LGBTQ rights and social issues. He had also acted in some Punjabi films and television series.

Sandhu had faced cyberattacks on social media because of his sexual orientation. About a year ago, another influencer, Kamal Kaur Bhabhi, was also shot dead in Bathinda.

Police said the motive behind the Amritsar shooting is not yet clear and a search is underway for the suspects.