How Divya Bharti spent the hours leading up to her unexpected demise at the age of 19

Actress Divya Bharti, who would have turned 48 today, was noted for her stunning looks and pleasant film personality. On this date in 1993, the actor's career was just about to take off when she tragically departed away.

While there have been several conspiracy theories surrounding her untimely death (she was just 19), it is safe to assume that her death was caused by an accident. Divya died after falling from the fifth-floor balcony of her Mumbai residence. The actress had recently returned from a shoot in Chennai and was set to visit fashion designer Neeta Lulla at the latter's home to discuss her forthcoming film Andolan.

Neeta and her husband Shyam came, and everyone had been drinking. Amrita, Divya's housekeeper, had been frying some appetisers for the guests while conversing with her boss, while the guests watched television. Divya took a seat on the balcony ledge in the midst of all of this. The actress, however, lost her balance and fell on the floor as she turned around. She was breathing when paramedics came, but she succumbed to her fatal injuries soon after.

Conspiracies arose almost immediately after her death. Some speculated that it was a murder, while others suggested that it was a suicide. There were claims it was their work because this was a time when underworld money was frequently believed to be employed in film production.

Later, Divya's father is claimed to have issued a statement rejecting all rumours surrounding his daughter's death, saying, “There was no question of suicide or murder. Yes, she did drink a bit but how much can you drink in half an hour? And she was not depressed. She was the kind to give you depression! It was an accident. She sat on the ledge, lost her balance and fell. Sadly, all flats had grills except hers. Cars would always be parked below but that night there was not a single one. She fell directly on the ground.”

Divya Bharti is known for her roles in films such as Vishwatma, Shola Aur Shabnam, and Deewana. Many of her films remained unfinished when she died, including Laadla (in which Sridevi stepped in), Dilwale, Akshay Kumar's Mohra, and Ajay Devgn's Vijaypath.