SIDHARTH CAME WITH ME FOR THE PREMIERE OF SOTY: SANA
Sana Saeed, who is currently in Los Angeles, USA, says she was “shocked” on hearing about friend Sidharth Shukla’s sudden death. The duo had worked together on three shows — Babul Ka Aangann Chootey Na (2008), Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 6 (2013) and Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 7 (2016).
“One of my close friends knew Sidharth. She called me up just before I was about to hit the bed and said, ‘Before you read the papers, I want to let you know what has happened. People are going to call you and I don’t want you to be taken aback’,” says Saeed, adding, “He was so young and like a ball of energy. I don’t recall hearing of any kind of illness he was suffering from.”
Saeed reveals that Shukla “wasn’t just a co-star” to her. “I’d known him since I was 17.
I was doing a TV show before I restarted my career. I had met him then. We did two reality shows together. Much later, he did a Karan Johar film. In fact, Sidharth came with me for the premiere of Student Of The Year (SOTY; 2012),” she recalls.
The Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) actor admits that she was proud of his growing stardom after Bigg Boss 13.
“I wasn’t in touch with him in the past two years, but that doesn’t mean that we weren’t friends. I’ve been flying in and out of LA since the past two years and haven’t been able to stay in touch with most people back in India, apart from my family. Sidharth was doing well (professionally). I was excited for him,” she shares.
Ask her if she’s spoken to his family yet and Saeed says, “I want some time before I can register the news. I’ll definitely call his mom, but I don’t know if this is the right time.”
Sana Saeed says she was excited by the way Sidharth’s career was shaping up in the industry