HUNNAR KA EK SU ...REKHA MÈET GAYI , KABHI NAA BHULAANE KE LIYE

She inspired three generations of actors , from Raj Babbar and Anupam Kher and Neena Gupta to Shah Rukh Khan - Ali Peter John

Shah Rukh's father had a tea stall outside the National School of Drama and Shah Rukh used to help his father .

It was while he worked at the tea stall that he observed some of the best actors and dreamt of being like some of them one day . And Surekha Sikri was one of them.

Surekha made her debut in a controversial film called "Kissa Kursi kaa" which was a lashing out at the Emergency and was banned several times.

She also played one of the key roles in Govind Nihalani's mega serial Tamas and continued her good work in films like "Mammo" "Zubeida" and other artistic films.

She took a break and returned with a striking role in " Badhaai Ho" in which she excelled with Neena Gupta . And the last time she was seen in was when she played a major role in Zoya Ahktar's film Netflix web series , "Ghost Stories"

Surekha Sikri won the National Award thrice which was proof of her caliber as an actress . She was 75 when she died of a massive heart attack .

She is one of those actresses who was a much greater actress than she was given the opportunities .

Raj Babbar called her "an actress who could make her mark even in a bit role and who will be remembered as an actress whose talent was not respected as much as it should have".

Neena Gupta called her "an institution in the true sense of the word" and Anupam Kher said ,"she could put the best of actors in the shade ".

At the time of writing this piece (the afternoon of her death , july 16 , tributes are coming in from all fields of life, Talent like her comes once in a way and leaves its mark for centuries to come .

AISI ADAKAARA EK HI BAAR AATI HAIN AUR FIR BAARBAAR YAAD AATI HAI. SHAANT RAHO SUREKHA JI , SUKHI RAHO JAHAAN BHI HO. HUM MAAFI CHAHETE HAIN KI HUMNE AAPKO UTNI IZZAT NAHI DI JITNAA APKAA HAQ THAA .

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