On the 48th anniversary of her birth, we revisit Divya Bharti's amazing ascent and tragic demise.

She crammed the light of a thousand stars into a single year. She swayed onto the Hollywood beach with Saat Samundar Paar, presumably in search of an unfulfilled promise. Divya Bharti shot to prominence after matching Shah Rukh Khan's enthusiasm with her excitement in Aisi Deewangi, dekhi nahi kahin (Deewana). Her filmography included hits like Vishwatma, Shola Aur Shabnam, and Dil Ka Kya Kasoor. In the interesting child-woman, the year 1992 had discovered its bestselling motto.

Yet, like in Divya's case, there appears to be a thin border between burning bright and burnout. Fame's intoxication, an impulsive marriage, and her own teetering emotionality may have pushed Divya over the edge. The star was engulfed in her own conflagration. On April 5, 1993, 19-year-old Divya Bharti died in a tragic accident, a tragedy that a legion of her lovers have yet to forgive and decode!

A NATURAL STAR

Divya used to be doll-like as a child. According to legend, while tiny Divya was riding in the front seat of the car, a guy mistook her for a doll and questioned mother Mita Bharti where she got the toy! Divya, a natural performer, would rather stand in front of the mirror and imitate Sridevi's Ta Thaiya Ta Thaiya Ho (Himmatwala, 1983) than finish her homework as a schoolgirl!

She was approached by Kirti Kumar (Govinda's producer brother) for Radha Ka Sangam when she was in the ninth grade (1992). Divya quit school to pursue her passions of dancing, acting, and singing. Kirti intended to keep his heroine a secret, but Divya couldn't stay at home because she enjoyed socialising with her friends. Soon after, Juhi Chawla performed the Radha Ka Sangam mahurat. Boney Kapoor was looking for a new face for Prem (1995), and Divya piqued his interest. Tabu, on the other hand, took her place. Subhash Ghai wanted her for Saudagar (1991) for the third time, but the role went to Manisha Koirala instead. Mita was enraged by the turn of events, so she brought Divya to Kashmir for a holiday. However, the mother and daughter's vacation was cut short when South producer D Rama Naidu travelled to Mumbai for a narration. Rama Naidu requested that the mother-daughter accompany him to Hyderabad that evening. Bobbili Raja was the super hit flick (1990). 

Rajiv Rai thought to sign Divya for Vishwatma back home (1992). A 'Rs 500 Gandhiji note' was what Divya requested as a signing sum. The film earned her the hit song Saat Samundar, which went to number one on the charts. The single, which was shot at Nairobi's Bubbles discotheque, turned the 17-year-old debutante into a'star.' She ditched her widow-in-white veil and matched Shah Rukh Khan's craziness in Deewana with equal aplomb (1992). In 1992, the stunning Divya won the Filmfare Award for Lux New Face of the Year for her performances in musicals Dil Ka Kya Kasoor and Shola Aur Shabnam, the woman-centric Dil Aashna Hai, and the box-office friendly Balwaan.

HEART OF A CHILD

Divya was a constant riot, with a penchant for pranks and having a good time. Her birthday was once celebrated at China Garden. She got up on the hood of a car and started dancing after the party. She once scratched Shah Rukh Khan on the sets of Dil Aashna Hai when she was being fun. His secretary called to inform him that the celebrity would not collaborate with her. Shah Rukh Khan, on the other hand, laughed it off later, adding, "I said this just to scare her. She’s a bachhi (child)’.” 

“She was like a child and would tell David (Dhawan, director), ‘Tujhe to akal nahin hai (you have no sense). She’d call choreographer Saroj Khan ‘moti (fat)’ in jest,” Om Prakash Bharti, her father, once reminisced. “She’d speak in her inimitable style, ‘Chalna yaar, jane de na yaar…’” seconded mother Mita Bharti.

When Divya was younger, she fell in love. She married filmmaker Sajid Nadiadwala on May 10, 1992, after giving in to her emotions. It was first kept a secret. Her chips had flown to an unbelievable peak while she was only 19 years old. On April 5, 1993, however, everything changed.

A TRAGIC TURN

Divya was scheduled to fly to Hyderabad for a Telugu film on a fateful day. Her relatives later disclosed that she was walking about with a 'bandaged' foot in order to avoid going to Hyderabad. She completed an apartment in Bandra with her father Om Prakash and brother Kunal Bharti after a trip to the parlour. She was assured that the keys would be handed over to her when she returned from a shoot in Mauritius. She began dancing in the street, overjoyed at the transaction. She even ran into some of her old Bandra neighbours. Sajid called her at 10 p.m., telling her that costume designer Neeta Lulla and her psychiatrist husband Dr. Shyam Lulla (who was supposedly treating Divya for depression) were waiting for her at home. Kunal dropped Divya down at Sajid's place in Tulsi Apartments in Versova shortly after. She is alleged to have met Sajid in the lift, who was scheduled to go to Mauritius the next day. Kunal had just arrived home when he heard word that Divya had fallen from the Tulsi Apartments' 5th floor!

Neeta and her husband Shyam were reportedly watching TV when Divya approached the balcony. Amrita, Divya's maid who had cared for her from birth, was in the kitchen. Divya perched on the ledge after pouring herself a drink, lost her balance, and collapsed. Unfortunately, her flat was the only one without a grill. Cars were usually parked below, but there were none that night. Divya experienced a free fall.

She was airlifted to R.N. Cooper Hospital, where she was announced dead. When Father Om Prakash saw his beloved daughter, he became uncontrollable. “Burn down everything. I don’t want anything, just give me back Divya,” he started crying and was given medical assistance was provided to him. Kunal, Divya's younger brother, was also shaken. “I shouldn’t have left my sister behind. I was with her till ten minutes before she could jump down. She was very depressed… I want my sister back. She was just 19. Is that the age to die?’” Kunal was mentioned by Stardust.

Divya's mother Mita arrived at 3:45 a.m., according to reports. Shocked she, ‘lifted the veil that covered Divya’s face, placed her head on Divya’s chest and left the hospital’, based on the same report Sajid was out of it and had a lot of fainting spells. He had to be kept in the ICU due to his hypertension.

On April 5, Divya passed away. On the 7th of April, she was cremated. Sajid administered the last rites while dressed as a bride in sindoor.

Amrita, the maid, died of a heart attack less than a month later, unable to accept Divya's loss. Mita led Om Prakash to the spot where Divya had died and was cremated after a few days, when he was in better form. Mita always lamented the fact that she was not present when Divya died on April 5, 1993. She'd gone to her brother's house and then went to play cards. She was completely unaware that Divya had returned to Mumbai after a trip to Chennai. “They say maut kheench laati hai (death pulls you),” she stated in an interview.

Divya's untimely death sparked a number of suspicions. Alcoholism and substance abuse There is evidence of deception. That night, Divya had had a small amount of Mauritian Rum, but her mother claimed that she had ever used drugs. “But yes, she had a self-destructive streak. During the Radha Ka Sangam phase, she was disturbed about something and slashed her wrists. She’d harm herself in anger. A few months before her death, she had visited America. There she got upset about something and burnt herself with cigarette stubs. Those marks were there even when she died,” In a throwback interview with Filmfare, Mita recalled.

After the accident, Mita, who internalised her anguish, went through the 'worst ten years of her life.' She became a pallid version of herself after losing 25 kg. She worked out and meditated to get rid of her depression. She made it a habit to go to the Siddhi Vinayak Temple in Dadar every day. She could have driven alone, but she preferred to take the bus.

WE ARE PART OF A FAMILY

The deepest wounds are repaired, if not healed, over time. In the year 2000, Sajid married journalist Warda Khan. The two had a good relationship with the Bharti family. On festivals and other occasions, Sajid and Warda, along with their sons Subhaan and Sufiyan, paid visits to the Bhartis. They referred to Divya's parents as 'Mummy' and 'Daddy.' 

“Divya is still very much a part of our lives. Her family, her dad, her brother Kunal, they are like our family, they are a part of each celebration… On her anniversaries and birthdays, we speak to each other. When my children watch her movies, they call her ‘Badi Mummy’. So, guys, she is still a very, very beautiful part of our lives (sic),” Warda took to Instagram to express her feelings. Sajid even hosted an 80th birthday celebration for Om Prakash a few years back. Mita died on April 20, 2018, from kidney problems, while Om Prakash died on October 30, 2021.

Sajid's life continues to be enriched by Divya. Warda once said on Twitter , “Sajid still has her last touched Perfume, hair products, few more Items ....... she was part for his Debut film (KICK) Saat samundar... (sic)”.

As previously reported, Sajid bought the rights to the song Saat Samundar and used it in Kick (2014), in which Salman Khan danced to Divya's song Saat samundar paar.

Some relationships span not only the seven seas, but also seven lifetimes.