Rajiv Rai says ‘industry lost a gem’ after Divya Bharti’s untimely demise: ‘She would have been the biggest superstar’ |

Filmmaker Rajiv Rai introduced the late actress Divya Bharti to Bollywood with the film Vishwatma (1991). Rajiv, who recently returned to directing with the film Zoya, recently remembered the talented actress who passed away too soon.

Initial hesitation turned into belief

When casting for Vishwatma, Rajiv told DNA India that he initially didn’t choose Divya because he wasn’t sure about her. He found her playful and mischievous, and thought she wasn’t serious enough. However, during a second meeting, she showed a more serious side, and Rajiv realized he had misjudged her. Once she opened up, he decided to work with her and confirmed they would be doing the film together.

Rising star taken too soon

After Vishwatma, the actress quickly became a star with a string of hits. Tragically, she passed away on April 5, 1993, at just 19 years old, shocking the film industry and her fans. The filmmaker believes that if she had lived, she would have become one of Bollywood’s biggest superstars. He feels fortunate to have given her the iconic song ‘Saat Samundar Paar’ and to have worked with her on several films. They had even started shooting for Mohra before her untimely death. Rajiv calls her loss heartbreaking and says the industry lost a true gem.

Early career

Divya began her career as a teenager, initially working as a pin-up model. She made her acting debut with the Telugu blockbuster Bobbili Raja (1990). After her success in Vishwatma, she mainly acted in Hindi and Telugu films. Some of her popular hits include Shola Aur Shabnam, Deewana, Balwaan, and Kshatriya. In 1992, Divya married producer Sajid Nadiadwala. Tragically, she passed away in 1993 after falling from the balcony of her fifth-floor apartment in Versova, Mumbai.