The Irrepressible Surekha Sikri: 1945-2021

Brut India

She was most popularly known as the stern Daadisa in Balika Vadhu. But Surekha Sikri had no qualms about making a bigger career in TV than in films. The 75-year-old actress passed away due to a cardiac arrest this morning.  Thanks to BollywoodHungama.com for the footage.

Transcript

00:00After theater, I mostly worked on television.

00:02I like to do my best, whatever I'm doing.

00:05Whether it's a big screen or a small screen.

00:09First, I want to know the news.

00:12When did you get the time?

00:14I was reading an interview of yours, in which you said that

00:17although I've done a fair bit of interesting roles,

00:19yet I could not fulfill my potential lacking networking skills.

00:23I'll be honest, I was talking to a senior journalist before I came here.

00:29I was very excited to interview her.

00:31Please tell me something about her.

00:34She said that she's a phenomenal actress.

00:38Her graph should have been something along the lines of Shabana Azmi.

00:43But because of her talent and her phenomenal work,

00:48she hasn't received the recognition she deserves.

00:53How do you react to that, ma'am?

00:55Yeah, I would say it's true, and it's partly true because

00:59the scenario has changed now.

01:01Before, it was something else.

01:02Before, it was small appearances.

01:08That's why I was never interested.

01:11And since I'm from theater, I've filled my heart with good roles.

01:20I didn't have the hunger to do something in films.

01:25I moved to Bombay for other reasons,

01:28not actually to do any films.

01:30By the way, I started working on television.

01:35I got some decent roles there.

01:39I started with Banegi Aapni Baat.

01:42Then there were a couple of other things.

01:44And Beech Mein Balika Vadhu happened.

01:46That was for 7-8 years.

01:49So, I feel fulfilled that I have...

01:53You see, I like to do my best, whatever I'm doing.

01:57Whether it's a big screen or a small screen.

02:00But still, there's something missing.

02:02And that is because, as you say,

02:04my networking skills are not very finely honed.

02:08I remember that.

02:10Yes, I was the one who said that.

02:11I can't do that kind of thing.

02:15Because people know me.

02:17If they think I'm capable of something,

02:19they'll offer it to me.

02:20It's so simple.

02:22But if the television people approached me more,

02:24then I used to say,

02:24yes, this is a good role.

02:26Why not?

02:27Right.

02:28But you've never seen it in a way that it's an inferior medium?

02:33Not at all.

02:34It's not an inferior medium.

02:36You know, it's a very powerful medium.

02:39The thing is, the people who do it,

02:43their attitude is a little bit like this.

02:49I mean, they don't give 100%.

02:52Yes.

02:53They think, oh, man, this is a daily soap.

02:55Something always happens.

02:57That's a wrong attitude.

02:59You can do wonders.

03:01Because after all, the story is there.

03:04The characters are there.

03:05The frame is there.

03:07Absolutely.

03:07You have to awaken something in yourself.

03:11The way you work.

03:14And you have to give 100% in that.

03:18Whatever work it is.

03:19Right.

03:20Like I read an article,

03:23Zen and the Actor.

03:25Correct.

03:25There was a small thing in it,

03:27that even if you're cutting vegetables,

03:29even if you're peeling a potato,

03:31you have to do it the right way.

03:34Do it in the most ordinary way.

03:37As much as you can,

03:38do it in a proper way.

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