Divya Bharti (25 February 1974 – 5 April 1993) was an Indian film actress,^[1] whose acting variety hailed her as "the most interesting young actress of her generation" starring in a number of commercially successful motion pictures during the early 1990s. She appeared in Hindi films of Bollywood, as well as Telugu and Tamil films. Bharti played a variety of character types; her film roles along with her screen persona contributed to a change in the concept of a Hindi film heroine.^[2]

After spending much of her childhood in Mumbai, Bharti began a career as an actress in 1990 with the Telugu film Bobbili Raja. Her early film appearances were minor, but in films like Vishwatma (1992) where her performance in the song "Saat Samundar Paar" drew attention to her. By 1992, Bharti had progressed to leading roles in films like Shola Aur Shabnam , a melodramatic film that dwelt on her undauntedness. Her dramatic performance in Deewana later that year was hailed by critics and garnered a Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut.^[3] Bharti has acted in over 14 Hindi films between 1992 and 1993.^[4] Throughout her career, she often played strong female characters and, apart from mainstream cinema. Bharti's last completed films were Rang, co-starring Kamal Sadanah and Shatranj with Jackie Shroff, both released posthumously. ^[5]

Though her career went through certain periods of decline, she reinvented herself numerous times and was credited for her ability to sustain her status.^[6] The final years of Bharti's life were marked by personal problems, and a reputation for unreliability and difficulty to work with. Her career was cut short by her mysterious death on 5 April 1993.^[7] The circumstances of her death, falling from the window ledge of her five-story Versova apartment have been the subject of conjecture.

Family and early life[link]

Divya Bharti was born on February 25 1974, in the Mumbai, India, the eldest child of Omprakash Bharti an insurance officer and Meeta Bharti.^[8] Meeta Bharti was the second wife of Omprakash Bharti. She had a younger brother Kunal. Bharti Studied at Maneckji Cooper High School in Juhu, Mumbai, in same era as actors Farhan Akhtar and Rani Mukherji attended. She was an average in studies and completed grade 9th.^[9]

Career[link]

1988-1990: Early work and career beginnings[link]

In 1988, Bharti met film-maker Nandu Tolani when she accompanied a friend. Upon seeing her, Nandu Tolani insisted that she become an actress. At that time Bharti was in the ninth standard. She was originally scheduled to make her screen debut in Gunahon Ka Devta in 1988, but her role was cancelled later.^[10] Kirti Kumar (Govinda's brother) noticed the Divya at a video library, was eager to sign up Divya for Radha Ka Sangam opposite Govinda. Weeks later Kirti went personally to meet Dilip Shankar and managed to release Divya from their contract. Before the first shot was taken, Bharti was out of the film after being groomed for two years and replaced by Juhi Chawla.^[11]

Bharti's career was on end until D. Ramanaidu, one of the biggest producers of Telugu cinema offered Bobbili Raja opposite his son Daggubati Venkatesh. She commenced shooting for her first release. The film was released in the summer of 1990 and became a colossal hit.^[12] She was introduced as Rani, daughter of the minister who has had all the comforts of life. The film was considered an usual launch for a newcomer, However, she was eventually noticed for her role, particularly for the forthright character she played.

Although highly regarded for her acting abilities, Bharti acted in only one Tamil film titled Nila Penne opposite Anand Babu, the son of legendary actor, Nagesh who was most widely known for several leading roles in the early 1990s and his dancing exploits. The film was critically and financially unsuccessful.^[13]

1990–1992:Rise to stardom in Telugu cinema[link]

With more hits, Bharti became a bigger name in Telugu cinema.^[14] In box-office ratings, she figured next to Vijayshanti. In 1991, Bharti gave back-to-back hits, including Rowdy Alludu and Assembly Rowdy opposite Chiranjeevi and Mohan Babu.^[15]

Later that year, A Kodandarami Reddy's action romantic Dharma Kshetram under Sri Rajeev Productions released. Bharti essayed the role of beautiful girl along with a prominent Telugu film actor Nandamuri Balakrishna, who then starred in many critical and commercial films with the highest number of dual roles (Thirteen). The film went on to become one of the biggest hits of Telugu cinema of its time.^[16] Nandamuri Balakrishna said about her performance, "This is an exceptional position reflecting an exceptional role she has played for us." ^[17]

1992–1993:Rise to stardom in Bollywood[link]

Bharti's first Bollywood film was Vishwatma opposite Sunny Deol, directed by Rajiv Rai which released on January 2, 1992. The film was an average grosser at the box office but gained Bharti wider recognition from the public as well as film critics.^[18] the film was only declared an average grosser.^[19] Notably, the music of the film was very successful especially the song "Saat Samundar" which became a favorite and gave Bharti the limelight into Bollywood..^[20]

Seven days later, Bharti's next film, Lawrence D'Souza's romantic drama Dil Ka Kya Kasoor alongside Prithvi and Sanam released but opened badly.^[21] Bharti's role was that of a girl by the name of Seema, who is secretly in love with a guy who wants to be a singer. She secretly helps him become a successful singer by writing songs for him but keeps her identity a secret from him. Through her songs he becomes popular and wealthy virtually overnight. The music of this film from duo Nadeem-Shravan was an instant hit due to its catchy melody. But the film din't do well at the box office. 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).^[22]

In March 1992, David Dhawan's Shola Aur Shabnam was released. Bharti starred as Divya, the love interest of Karan (Govinda. Karan and Divya both plan to marry each other. Circumstances act against them, and they flee together, with Kali Baba's (Gulshan Grover) men after them. Shola Aur Shabnam was popular with critics and was a box office hit in India,^[23] establishing Bharti once again. She received a Lux Face of the Year title. It also gave a big boost to Govinda's career^[24], as well as launching David Dhawan as an established director.^[25].

Four months later, Bharti received further success in Raj Kanwar's Filmfare award winning love story Deewana ^[26] starred veteran actor Rishi Kapoor, and newcomer Shahrukh Khan. Bharti essayed the role of Kajal who falls in love and marries a famous singer named Ravi (Rishi Kapoor). After Ravi is presumed dead after falling off a cliff, the widowed and depressed Kajal meets a young man named Raja (Shahrukh Khan). Deewana grossed 14 crore, and Boxoffice India declared it a hit.^[27] Her performance in Deewana was highly appreciated. ^[28] Critics reported that Bharti belonged to a new breed of Hindi film actors that breaks away from character stereotypes. Bharti and Shahrukh Khan both were awarded with Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut and Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut respectively.

By July 1992, Bharti's work in Deewana was said to have earned her more acknowledge. She was listed as one of the "Most Valuable Young Stars". Further films like Jaan Se Pyaara, once again with Govinda, Geet and Balwaan with another debutant Sunil Shetty followed. Balwaan premiered on 11 September 1992 and was an success, establishing Sunil Shetty as a tough action hero. The film was considered an unusual for Bharti, as her role called for only minutes of screen time. Her role was small, and was not well received. She was mostly criticised for taking a role of minimal importance. Although she explained that the decision was significant, so even when characters are being unkind it's hard not to like

By the end of the year, She starred in Hema Malini's Dil Aashna Hai once again co-starring Shahrukh Khan. The film tells the story of a young girl brought up in a brothel, who is a cabaret dancer in Digvijay Singh's (Kabir Bedi) five-star hotel. Karan (Shahrukh Khan) falls in love with Laila. Laila is aided by Karan in the search for her birth mother. Laila is determined to bring seek answers and find acceptance from her real mother. The film garnered negative reviews and poor box office returns.^[29] She described the role as an attempt to pretext her cursorial public image. Hema Malini labelled her role by stating that "The lady has not just looked glamorous but she has walked with symmetry, smiled with austerity and spoke with sangfroid" ^[30]

Bharti's final film before her death was the ensemble film Kshatriya, released just 10 days before her death. Her last completed films Rang and Shatranj were released months after her death and dedicated to her memory. She had completed 80% shooting of the film Laadla before her role was recast with Sridevi. She was also set to star in films like Mohra, Vijaypath, Kartavya and Andolan but was replaced by other actresses.

Personal life[link]

Bharti married film producer Sajid Nadiadwala in 1992.^[7] They had met in 1990 at Film City, when Sajid dropped by the sets to meet Govinda on the sets of Shola Aur Shabnam.^[31]

Death and aftermath[link]

Around midnight of 5 April 1993, Bharti fell to her death from a five-storey Versova apartment building in Mumbai. There was much speculation by the media regarding Bharti's sudden demise, including the possibility of accidental death, well planned conspiracy or even murder. ^[32] Mumbai Police failed to find evidences and closed the investigation in 1998. Some conspiracy theories involved her husband Sajid Nadiadwala, while other theories suggested Mafia complicity. But the circumstances of her death still remain a mystery.^[33]

Bharti's body was released to her family, who had arranged for a cremation ceremony.^[34] On 7 April 1993, Bharti was cremated in Hindu fashion.

Filmography[link]

Incomplete films[link]

Year of release	Title	Co-Star	Replacement
1993	Dhanwan	Ajay Devgan	Karisma Kapoor
1993	Tholi Muddhu	Prashanth	Rambha
1993	Do Kadam	Salman Khan	N
1993	Parinaam	Akshay Kumar	N
1993	Chal Pe Chal	Jackie Shroff	N
1993	Bajrangi	Sunny Deol	N
1994	Mohra	Akshay Kumar	Raveena Tandon
1994	Laadla	Anil Kapoor	Sridevi
1994	Vijaypath	Ajay Devgan	Tabu
1995	Andolan	Ajay Sharma	Mamta Kulkarni
1995	Kartavya (1995 film)	Sanjay Kapoor	Juhi Chawla
1995	Angrakshak	Sunny Deol	Pooja Bhatt
1995	Hulchul	Ajay Devgan	Kajol
1995	Kanyadaan	Rishi Kapoor	Manisha Koirala

The list of incomplete films is copyright from Filmfare and Cineblitz magazines of May 1993.

N = Indicates that the movie wasn't made.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Divya Bharti at the Internet Movie Database
• http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-04-07/news-interviews/31300649_1_biopic-bollywood-debut-mystery
• http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Bollywood/Not-making-film-based-on-Divya-Bharti-Sandhu/Article1-837814.aspx