It was shocking then as it is now, the tragic passing of Divya Bharti at age 19. And Sridevi at 54. Divya had more than a passing resemblance to Sridevi and filmmakers tried to give younger Divya clothes, hairstyle, ensembles that resembled Sridevi's former looks, to try and recreate the success of the southern sensation. By the time Divya arrived, Sridevi was an established superstar and producers who couldn't afford Sridevi's famed sky-high remuneration and rates, opted for newcomer Divya Bharti.
Laadla, for example, was originally offered to Sridevi in its Tamil and Telugu version, Gharana Mogudu, but Sridevi refused the film as she found the character too negative and didn't want to tarnish her image, especially in a film with Chiranjeevi when the two had just had a blockbuster run of JVAS. When Gharana Mogudu became a superhit, naturally, it was remade in Hindi as Laadla with Divya Bharthi as a lead, when it was already common knowledge that Sridevi had said no to the original. The tragic passing of Divya during the production of the film halted production and the producers went scrambling to Sridevi who signed the dotted line looking at the success of the film's run down south - a petri dish that often predicted how well the Hindi version would do. And Sridevi took the film to the next level, Laadla was a bona fide hit and remembered singularly for her performance.
Divya played the part when she was 19 and never completed the film, fragments of scenes and songs float online. Sridevi wrapped the film at age 30 and it was a refined, mature, polished performance that landed her a Best Actress nomination for the n'th time. Wonder if she had been nominated in the Best Villain category--as Kajol was for Gupt--Sridevi would have walked away with yet another trophy?
Divya's performance was incomplete... well, comparing apples and oranges, its not worth the argument as the fevered, mob mentality of discussion runs mute with the death of an Indian celebrity, when nuance and critique is unwelcome. Cloaking, cloying sentimentality hovers over rational debate. Sushant Singh Rajput's final films couldn't even be reviewed as rabid fans were in no mood to address either flaw or fact. Today we feel the same about Sridevi critics.
Divya Bharti's short but impactful film career remains a tragedy in all fronts. She was well on her way to become the top star of her time; alas cruel fate took her too soon.
Sridevi was on her way to reach further dizzying heights and again, the world's puppet master snapped her string too soon.
Man proposes, God disposes. Or whatever that bumper car sticker note says...
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