Sidharth Shukla: A force to reckon with, a rising star gone too soon

Sidharth Shukla Picture Courtesy: Pallav Paliwal

The fact that Sidharth Shukla has passed away merely at the age of 40 proves how unpredictable life can be. The news has shocked the entertainment industry and equally numbed are his fans. He was omnipresent after his historic stint in the Bigg Boss 13 house in 2019. His social media following quadrupled and fame jumped the roof.

To say he had it easy would be wrong. Shukla began his career in showbiz as a model and made his acting debut with a lead role in the television show 'Babul Ka Aangann Chootey Na'. He later appeared on shows such as 'Jaane Pehchaane Se... Ye Ajnabbi', 'Love U Zindagi', but became a household name with 'Balika Vadhu'. In 2014, Shukla made his Bollywood debut with the Karan Johar-produced 'Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania'. In this film, a part of the heart rooted for him to win the girl in the end.

The actor had to succeed and he did, with historic results. 2019 changed everything for Shukla when he participated in Bigg Boss 13. As the show progressed and the viewers began to see more of him, he became a rage and an overnight sensation, a force to reckon with. Social media blew up with fans across the country wanting him, and only him, to win. In the last two years, everything he did made headlines, even reports that were blatantly balderdash.

Fans were desperate for him to tweet something, to post a picture on his Instagram account, to spot him at the airport or anywhere in the city. Shukla could give Bollywood bigwigs a run for their money. It's shocking that time ran out; it's devastating that an actor who almost became a superstar passed away at the young age of 40. It will take some time for this to sink in.

Also Read: Bigg Boss 13 winner, actor Sidharth Shukla, passes away at 40