Remembering Divya Bharti on her 19th death anniversary

Divya Bharti (25 February 1974 – 5 April 1993) was an Indian film actress. She started her career in the South film industry with the 1990 Telugu film. After several other hits in the South, she entered Hindi films with Vishwatma in 1992, for which she earned accolades for her performance in the song Saat Samundar Paar. She appeared in more than 14 Hindi films between 1992 and 1993. Her career was cut short by her death on 5 April 1993, when she fell from her apartment building. The investigation into the circumstances of her death was closed in 1998.

Rise to stardom in Bollywood (1992–1993)

When Bharti heard that Rajiv Rai was on the lookout for a new face for his film Vishwatma opposite Sunny Deol, she approached him and was signed onto the film the same day. Bharti left for long outdoor shooting in Nairobi. By the time of her return, Bharti had signed 14 films.

Vishwatma was released on January 2, 1992. Although it did well, the film was only declared an average grosser. Notably, the film's most popular song "Saat Samundar", which focused on Bharti, became a hit.

Seven days later, Bharti's musical bonanza Dil Ka Kya Kasoorreleased but opened badly. However, Filmfare magazines started including Bharti in the list of 1992 "Top Ten Best Actress Performances". After Bharti's flops, she was quoted as saying, "I wanted to prove myself. But I've fallen flat on my face. Now, I have to begin my climb all over again. Yet, I'm positive that one day, success will be mine." (Stardust, March 1992).

Pehlaj Nihlani's Shola Aur Shabnam came along and was a box office hit, establishing Bharti once again. It also gave a big boost to Govinda's career, as well as launching David Dhawan as an established director.

Four months later, Raj Kanwar's love story Deewana became the biggest hit of 1992, where Bharti held her own against veteran Rishi Kapoor and debutant Shahrukh Khan. With the super success of Deewana, Bharti entered the A-list. Her performance in Deewana was highly appreciated. Around that time, her other films Balwan with another debutant Sunil Shetty and Jaan Se Pyara with Govinda released and did well at the box office. By the end of the year, Hema Mailini's Dil Aashna Hai was released. Although the film was a box-office failure, Bharti's performance was much appreciated by critics.

Death

Around midnight of 5 April 1993, Bharti fell to her death from a five-story Versova apartment building in Mumbai. There was much speculation by the media regarding Bharti's sudden demise, including the possibility of accidental death, suicide or even murder. Bharti's dress designer Neeta Lulla is believed to have been at the apartment sometime before her death. Police closed investigation in 1998, but the circumstances of her death still remain a mystery.

Bharti's body was released to her family, who had arranged for a cremation ceremony. On 7 April 1995, Bharti was cremated in Hindu fashion with about 500 people in attendance, including Anil Kapoor, Govinda, Kamal Sadanah, Raj Babbar,
Yash Chopra, Jimmy Nirula, Aruna Irani, Raza Murad, Chirinjeevi, Vikas Anand, Venkatesh, Ram Mohan, Javed Khan, Raj Kanwar, Nitin Manmohan and Pehlaj Nehlani. A large number of film personalities, including Hema Mailini, Urmila Matondkar, Saif Ali Khan, Shahrukh Khan, Shilpa Shirodkar, Sonu Walia, Somy Ali, Babita, Karisma Kapoor, Sangeeta Bijlani, Tabu, Manisha Koirala and Asha Parekh, offered condolences to the bereaved family members at their residence. Her husband, Sajid Nadiawla was not allowed to attend her last rites. At the time of her death, Bharti had been the youngest leading lady of Indian cinema.

Bharti was scheduled to star in movies such as Mohra, Laadla, Andolan, Angrakshak, Kartavya and Vijaypath  before her death. She had started filming Laadla before her death but the entire movie was re-shot with Sridevi The footage of her performance was seen in a special television programme in 1994. The film was to be released in 1993 had Divya completed the movie, but was eventually released in 1994. Bharti is notably famous for her film songs, which were generally a rage amongst youths.

Bharti's two completed films, Rang and Shatranj were released months after her death. These films, in addition to several films produced by her husband Sajid Nadiadwala, were dedicated to her memory.