Surekha Sikri was a terrific actor: Shabana Azmi

National Award-winning actor Surekha Sikri passed away today morning due to cardiac arrest. She was 75. A statement shared by the late actress' agent revealed that she was battling complications induced by a second brain stroke. “Three-time National Award winning actress, Surekha Sikri has passed away following a cardiac arrest earlier this morning at the age of 75. She had been suffering from complications arising from a second brain stroke," the actor's agent Vivek Sidhwani said.
In her celebrated acting career, the veteran actress gave compelling performances, a few with acting great Shabana Azmi.The latter told BT, “Surekha Sikri was a terrific actor and has gone away too early. There were roles waiting to come her way. Zoya (Akhtar) cast her in a short film (Ghost Stories, 2020) even though she was confined to a wheel chair after a stroke. There was such a demand for her particularly after Badhaai Ho. My deepest condolences to her family.”
In 2019, Sikri was honoured with the Best Supporting Actress National Award for Badhaai Ho, marking her third National Award win. In 1988, she won a National Award for Tamas and in 1995 for Mammo. Surekha Sikri, graduated from the National School of Drama and was honoured with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1989.