Entertainment: Sonia Rathi said on leaving season 4 in memory of Siddharth Shukla

Entertainment: It has been three years since Sidharth Shukla’s untimely demise left everyone shocked and he still lives in the hearts of his fans and colleagues. Shukla, who was last seen in the web show Broken But Beautiful 3, released in May 2021, passed away in September the same year. In his memory, producer-director Ekta Kapoor recently announced that they will not be making the fourth season of the show. Now reacting to Kapoor’s decision, actress Sonia Rathee, who starred alongside Shukla in Broken and Beautiful 3, says, “It’s a great gesture.” “I don’t think Agastya (Shukla) and Rumi’s (Rathi) story should have gone ahead without Sidharth. It doesn’t feel right,” she adds, adding, “It’s actually a very beautiful tribute to him. Ekta knew that season four couldn’t be made with anyone else but him. He definitely deserved a tribute and it’s quite beautiful that she decided to do it because he kind of sums up Agastya and Rumi’s story can’t go on without him.”

Recalling her time on the sets with the late actor, Rathee, who was last seen in Tara vs Bilal (2022), recalls how nervous she was initially, as she was new to the art.

She remembers how Shukla supported her and eased her nerves when she was “completely upset”. She says, “Things used to bother me a lot. A lot happens on the set – the costume doesn’t fit or the producer is yelling at you. I remember it was my first day on the set and it was my second scene of shooting for the show and I had to cry. It’s the scene where I think I’m wearing a plaid skirt and top and Sidharth sees me in the mirror and I have to cry. I was so nervous. I was getting myself ready and had already taken eight takes. He took me aside and said ‘Ok, calm down. I’ll stay here overnight. It’s fine.’ And he did that many times while shooting for the series.” Recalling Shukla and his “unmatched aura”, Rathi says she feels “blessed” to work with a co-star like him. She says the energy and positivity that Shukla brought to the set was inspiring. “He was a mentor to me. I remember having long conversations with him in which he would give me advice, as I was very new. Whenever I look back, I remember all the things he used to say to me and they seem so true. I have learnt a lot from him. He definitely instilled confidence in me and I will always be grateful for that. I will always remember that time with such a full heart and it will always make me happy,” she says.

Stay connected with Janta Se Rishta for news updates