Siddharth Shukla who should have lived longer than this. His untimely demise at the age of 40, is just to tragic for all the TV fans to stomach. Why do we have to witness such a sad passing away. Just when everything he must have planned was panning out superbly…
Balika Badhu the 1976 film starring Sachin & Rajni Sharma had all of us hooked to the child bride who grows to know the meaning of marriage. Later ‘Colors’ brought the same story to the small screen as Balika Vadhu (Child Bride)
It ran from 21 July 2008 to 31 july 2016. Total 2,248 episodes were aired. Avika Gor as the young Anandi was very popular. Later the teenage Anandi was Pratyusha Banerjee. She was the “Anandi”. No one else can replace her.
She got married to Shiv. This role by Siddharth Shukla was iconic. I vividly remember his entry & the joy felt at his being the lead. Just when she is refused by her childhood friend, Jagya, Shiv makes a grand entry on screen & her life!
From then on he never looked back. The untimely death of Pratyusha must have been a shock to all. She died on 1 April 2016. He remembered her birthday every year & paid homage.
On July 16, 2021 we lost the versatile actress Surekha Sikri too. She played the loved ‘Daddisa’ to Anandi. She died of cardiac arrest.
Siddharth is also suspected to have died of a heart attack. The loss of three of the cast of a show, loved for years by all. They had become household names. The struggle taking place in the Rajasthani household was as if happening next door. In spite of the number of episodes, the length of time it ran, it never lost grip. The audience faithfully followed it.
Siddharth the winner of the show, Big boss, has been in news always. From ‘Jhalak Dikhla Ja’ to any awards ceremony he was a known face everywhere. Recently into a serious relationship he was thinking of getting married. But that was not to be.
He went in search of his Anandi. But leaving us all in tears. Farewell. Be Happy where you are. You will remain in our memories forever!
Asian Entertainment 