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Popular TV star Siddharth Shukla’s death at 40 shocks army of fans

The 40-year-old actor died in Mumbai’s Cooper Hospital

- By Manjusha Radhakrish­nan Assistant Editor - Features

Indian actor, model, and Bigg Boss 13 winner Sidharth Shukla died yesterday due to a heart attack in Mumbai. He was 40. According to reports, he died in Mumbai’s Cooper Hospital.

The actor’s sudden death has shocked his army of fans.

Shukla was known for his roles in

Broken But Beautiful 2, Balika Vadhu and Dil Se Dil Ta. He’s also a talent who donned several hats and began his career in the entertainm­ent industry as a model.

His popularity quadrupled after he took home the Bigg Boss title and has hosted shows such as Savdhaan and

India’s Got Talent.

Shukla has also acted in films such as Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania, his Bollywood debut. He’s survived by his mother and two sisters.

His affability and his non-threatenin­g handsome looks made him a popular figure in the world of entertainm­ent.

Shukla made his acting debut with a lead role in the 2008 show Babul Ka Aangann Chootey Na.

He was a self-made actor in every sense. He did not belong to an acting dynasty nor did he have any powerful industry connection­s to break into the Indian television or movie scene, but he famously made it on his own steam.

MODEL TURNED ACTOR

He was born to a Hindu Brahmin family in Mumbai and his father was a civil engineer, while his mother was a homemaker. While he was armed with a degree in interior designing, it was modelling and movies that seemed to be his true calling. In 2004, he was discovered at the Gladrags Manhunt and appeared first in Ila Arun’s music video entitled Resham Ka Rumal.

But it was his role in the hit TV series Balika Vadhu which made him a household name. He played the stoic Shiv, who dies for his country after being killed by extremists.

That role won him several awards. He has also appeared in several hit serials including Love U Zindagi, a show inspired by Bollywood blockbuste­r Jab We Met.

In 2014, Shukla made his Bollywood debut in the romantic comedy starring Alia Bhatt and Varun Dhawan entitled Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania.

It was a supporting role and he played Angad Bedi, an NRI doctor and fiancé of the female protagonis­t played by Alia Bhatt. As soon as news emerged about his death, his colleagues took to Twitter to mourn his demise. Apart from his successful stint in serials and movies, he was also a big hit in several reality shows.

Actor and producer Vindu Dara Singh wrote: “Gone too soon bro. Your glow will be with us forever and your loss is just irreplacea­ble!! There was no winner like you in #BiggBoss and there will never be another.”

Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar tweeted: “Shocking News about actor #SiddharthS­hukla’s demise. Such a hard-working and talented actor gone too soon. My heartfelt condolence­s and prayers for his family and dear ones. #OmShanti.”

Actress Raveena Tandon expressed her shock and sadness at Shukla’s unexpected death.

“Omg! Can’t believe this news! Still hoping it’s not true! So successful and hardworkin­g, too young to go.”

Shukla’s unexpected death is a grim reminder that Bollywood and Indian television have lost many young talents in recent years.

Choreograp­her and director Farah Khan echoed this sentiment in her tweet.

“Can this year get any worse??! Shocked and extremely saddened to hear about @sidharth_shukla’s demise. My heart goes out to his family,” tweeted Khan.

 ??  ??
 ?? Photos by IANS, PTI ?? ‘Bigg Boss’ season 13 winner Sidharth Shukla during the grand finale of the show, in Mumbai.
Photos by IANS, PTI ‘Bigg Boss’ season 13 winner Sidharth Shukla during the grand finale of the show, in Mumbai.
 ??  ?? From Shweta Tiwari to Manoj Bajpayee, Bollywood shocked by Sidharth Shukla death
From Shweta Tiwari to Manoj Bajpayee, Bollywood shocked by Sidharth Shukla death
 ??  ?? Shukla ahead of the launch of his show ‘Broken But Beautiful 3’.
Shukla ahead of the launch of his show ‘Broken But Beautiful 3’.
 ??  ?? Sidharth Shukla enters the ‘Big Boss OTT’ house.
Sidharth Shukla enters the ‘Big Boss OTT’ house.

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