National Award-winning actress Surekha Sikri passed away yesterday morning after suffering a cardiac arrest. “She had been suffering from complications arising from a second brain stroke. She was surrounded by family and her caregivers. The family asks for privacy at this time,” her manager said. Sikri was 75 when she breathed her last in Mumbai. She is survived by her son, Rahul Sikri.

An NSD graduate, Sikri, who was always associated with theatre, made her film debut with the 1978 political drama film Kissa Kursi Ka, and since then, proved her versatility as an actress with a variety of roles. Known for her acting prowess, she has won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress thrice for her roles in Tamas (1988), Mammo (1995) and Badhaai Ho (2018). She won the Filmfare Award for the Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Badhaai Ho. In her long career, she has been a part of films like Naseem (1995), Sardari Begum (1996), Sarfarosh (1999), Dillagi (1999), Zubeidaa (2001) and Sniff (2017). Her TV projects include shows like Banegi Apni Baat (1993), Just Mohabbat (1996), Balika Vadhu (2008) and Pardes Mein Hai Mera Dil (2016), among others.

Among her last acting projects were an anthology released on a digital platform and the short film Sheer Qorma (2020), which also featured Shabana Azmi, Divya Dutta and Swara Bhasker. Talking about her, Azmi says, “Surekha Sikri was a terrific actor and has gone away too early. There were roles waiting to come her way. Zoya (Akhtar) had cast her in a short film (in 2020) even though she was confined to a wheelchair after a stroke. There was such a demand for her, particularly after Badhaai Ho. My deepest condolences to her family.” Manoj Bajpayee took to social media to express grief. “One of the greatest talents, Surekha Sikri ji, passed away leaving behind so many great performances in theatre and cinema! She was a treat to watch on stage. Can’t forget some of those memories of her act in theatre. great craft and a graceful person! (sic),” he wrote.

Neena Gupta, who played Sikri’s daughter-in-law, posted a video saying, “I remember watching her performance when I was in NSD. Main sochti thi, mujhe aisi actress banna hai. Phir Badhaai Ho mein saath main kaam kiya. I would keep watching her when she would perform. Itna kuch seekhne ko mila, aur itna kuch baaki tha. She was such a committed actor. In one scene, she had to scold the members of our family and then I had to react. We told her to just give the cue in a very normal manner. But irrespective of the number of takes, she gave the cue with as much gusto every time as she had performed her scene. Aise log bahut kam milte hain. I feel so sad that she is no more.”

While Sikri was a part of many TV shows, she won immense appreciation and popularity for her portrayal of the strict Dadisa in Balika Vadhu (2008). Annup Sonii, who played her son in the show, had a special connection with her. Remembering her, he shares, “While studying at NSD, I had heard so much about her that it was like a dream come true to work with her. She must have been 60-plus when we started shooting for Balika Vadhu. Many actors at that age might feel that abhi bohot kaam kar liya and they take their work for granted. But the kind of passion she had for her craft was commendable. I have seen her working on her dialogues and rehearsing her lines. She was extremely passionate about her craft.”

— TNN