Sidharth Shukla was too young and bright to be taken away so soon, says Rahul Vaidya

Forty is no age to go The grief of losing someone so young is perhaps only compounded by their potential and aspirations all lost in a heartbeat A wave of disbelief and shock fell upon the television industry and fans on Thursday morning as news spread that actor Sidharth Shukla had passed awaySidharth ShuklaThe actor it was reported had suffered a heart attack and was declared dead when taken to Cooper Hospital in JuhuIn his 13year television career that kickstarted with Baabul Ka Aangan Chootey Na 2008 Shukla had achieved what was considered unimaginable in the telly world ldquoMost TV actors are referred to by their onscreen personas But the audience knew him by his name and not by the character he portrayed on screen He was a superstar whose fan following matched that of any bigscreen starrdquo says Ashish Shrivastav who helmed Dil Se Dil TakShukla shone in Balika VadhuAlso Read Sidharth Shukla passes away Asim Riaz Shefali Jariwala pay last respectsShrivastav says he valued Shuklarsquos callaspadeaspade attitude mdash a refreshing change from the pandering ways of the industry That many misinterpreted his candour for arrogance is not lost on the director ldquoHe believed in saying things to your face not behind your back I had heard a lot about his difficult style of working but I did not find him arrogant He was a cheerful person who loved to play pranks on the set Acting came naturally to himrdquo he saysHumpty Sharma Ki DulhaniaIt was his acting talent that made viewers sit up and take notice of him in Balika Vadhu in 2012 The show sparked the steady rise of Shukla Actor Roop Durgapal who played his sister Sanchi in the show remembers how Shuklarsquos little gesture had revealed his caring side ldquoDuring an event in Vietnam the locals offered us some sweets Knowing that I loved sweets Sidharth sneaked a few pieces in his pocket for me When I told him that two were not enough he ensured that I got a box full of themrdquoBigg Boss 13Also Read No injuries on Sidharth Shuklarsquos body cops at his residence for investigationA host of projects followed each cementing his position as a star in the galaxy of fame Where he was part of reality shows such as Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa and Khatron Ke Khiladi 7 he also dabbled in movies with Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania 2014 His biggest claim to fame came in 2019 in Bigg Boss 13 It introduced the audience to the real person behind the actor Shefali Bagga who was his housemate says that she initially considered him ldquoa tough guyrdquoBroken But Beautiful 3ldquoBut after exiting the house I saw a few videos that showed how he supported me inside the house When I returned as a wild card entrant my opinion about him changed completely He would check on me if I was sitting alone and ensure that I didnrsquot feel lonely in the big houserdquo Singer Rahul Vaidya is lost for words at his untimely demise The two had developed a bond over their love for fitness ldquoHe was fit and would sometimes work out for four hours I think about his mother and sisters whom I had met during my Bigg Boss stint He was too young and bright to be taken away so soonrdquoAlso Read Gone too soon Friends colleagues express shock over Sidharth Shuklas demise