According to initial police findings, the couple had stepped out of the hotel’s restaurant after dinner and were attempting to cross the road when a motorcycle, travelling at high speed from the Chandmari side, struck them. The impact threw both Vidyarthi and Barua onto the road, causing injuries to both. The motorcycle rider also sustained serious injuries in the collision.
Personnel from the Geetanagar police station reached the spot soon after being alerted. The injured biker was rushed to Guwahati Medical College Hospital for treatment, while Vidyarthi and his wife were taken to a nearby medical facility. Police said their injuries were not life-threatening, though further medical assessment is underway. An investigation has been initiated to determine the exact sequence of events and whether traffic rules were violated.
Rupali Barua, Vidyarthi’s wife, is an Assamese fashion entrepreneur and runs a clothing label based in Guwahati. The couple married in 2023, a year after Vidyarthi’s divorce from his first wife, Piloo Rajoshi, with whom he has a son. News of the accident spread quickly on social media, prompting concern from fans and colleagues across the film industry.
Ashish Vidyarthi, 62, is among Indian cinema’s most prolific character actors, with a career spanning nearly four decades. He has appeared in more than 300 films across 11 languages, including Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada. He made his acting debut in 1986 with the Kannada film Anand and rose to prominence in Hindi cinema with Govind Nihalani’s Drohkaal (1994), which earned him the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1995.
Known for his intense villainous and character roles, Vidyarthi has delivered acclaimed performances in films such as 1942: A Love Story, Vaastav, Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai, Barfi! and Haider. In recent years, he has also built a substantial digital following as a motivational speaker and food-travel vlogger. His YouTube channel, where he documents culinary journeys across Assam and the Northeast, has over 2.4 million subscribers.
Police officials said further updates will be shared once statements are recorded and CCTV footage from the area is reviewed.
