Exclusive - Balika Vadhu’s young Jagya aka Avinash Mukherjee remembers Surekha Sikri as thorough professional, says she was on sets the next day after her husband's demise

Balika Vadhu’s Dadi sa aka Surekha Sikri is no more. The legendary actress passed away today (July 16) due to cardiac arrest and her co-stars from the most celebrated show, Balika Vadhu are shocked and deeply saddened with the news. Avinash Mukherjee, who shared the screen space with her in the show and played the young Jagya spoke to ETimes TV and shared how the 75-year-old actress has always been an inspiration for him.
“First of all just got the news and I am deeply saddened. It is a big loss for all of us. I've personally worked with Surekha ji for around two and half years. I may not be in touch with her in the last couple of years but I know she has always been very dedicated and disciplined towards her work. She used to love me a lot and consider me her laade sir her grandson which I was playing in Balika Vadhu,” said the actor.
Avinash, who was merely 12-year-old while working on the show with the seasoned actor, narrated an interesting anecdote, he said, “She is one of the greatest actor which has ever lived on this planet. I still keep following her, I may not talk to her daily and she may not know but in many days intervals I keep seeing Balika Vadhu just to see her acting. As more years go by and I see her work, I understand more about acting just by seeing and observing her onscreen. I had once asked her on the sets of Balika Vadhu that how do you act so well. Like an innocent 12 year-old I had asked her this. She just answered it in one work and said, 'experience'. God has taken away a gem, it is a big loss. God is taking away the best of best from us first Dilip Sahab and now Surekha ji.”
Avinash, who is shocked and sad after learning the news, also spoke about an incident which just proves how professional and dedicated actor Surekha Sikri was.
He revealed that the senior actress was so committed towards her work that she had arrived on the sets the next day at 7 am after her husband’s demise and performed all her scenes without hesitation, “I think what will stay with me life long is which I keep telling to my costars as well that the only person she had while shooting for Balika Vadhu was her husband as her kids had settled abroad. We were shooting for the show and she got the news of her husband's demise at 2 pm during lunch time, she left the set but next day she was there at 7 am ready with her make up and dialouges and everybody just kept staring at her. Everyone was in a shock but she just came and performed without any hesitation. So what we can take from her is that the emotions that you have in your personal life shouldn't affect your work. And I feel this requires some next level of dedication and work ethic.”