On the morning of 6 April 1993, the Hindi film audience woke up to the shocking news of the young and bubbly actress Divya Bharti’s death, which happened the previous night on 5 April at around 11pm. She was just 19 then. The actress mysteriously fell to her death from her balcony. After a lot of investigations, the case was closed by the Mumbai police in 1998 as accidental death.
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But despite being in Hindi films for less than two years, Bharti acquired immense fame and recognition. Along with her impressive performances, the songs of her films also played a role in making her known far and wide.
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On her 25th death anniversary today, here’s revisiting five hit songs she was a part of.
1) 'Aisi Deewangi' – Deewana (1992)
This Raj Kanwar directorial was an important film for many reasons. Although Shah Rukh Khan had shot Dil Aashna Hai (1992) before this film, it was Deewana that was released first and thereby became his debut. His pairing with Divya Bharti was appreciated (she also starred opposite him in Dil Aashna Hai). The film, which also featured Rishi Kapoor, became a runaway musical hit. ‘Aisi Deewangi’ turned out to be a classic rendered by Kumar Sanu and Alka Yagnik. Not many would know that it was in this film itself that Khan opened his arms to make an iconic pose.
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2) 'Teri Umeed Tera Intezar' – Deewana (1992)
Deewana was released in an era when it was a regular feature to have impressive songs in every film. Composers Nadeem-Shravan had a habit of regularly churning out hit numbers. ‘Teri Ummeed Tera Intezar’ was another much loved song from Deewana. Kumar Sanu and Alka Yagnik breathed life into the track, to take it a notch higher in collective memory. The song played an important role in establishing the romantic angle between Bharti and Rishi Kapoor’s characters. The track ‘Koi Na Koi Chahiye,’ which was Shah Rukh Khan’s entry song, also became an instant hit.
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3) 'Saat Samundar Paar' – Vishwatma (1992)
'Saat Samundar Paar' is an example of how one song can make you immortal. Divya Bharti, who made her Hindi film debut with this film, owes a lot to this song for her fame. It has been more than 25 years since ‘Saat Samundar Paar’ was released, but the track appears as good as new. Even today, the song is received warmly whenever it is played at events and parties. Sadhana Sargam’s smooth voice played a major role in making it memorable. But sadly, the main tune in the song is lifted from the English song ‘Heart’ by Pet Shop Boys.
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4) 'Dil Ka Kya Kasoor' – Dil Ka Kya Kasoor (1992)
The 1980s and 1990s were star driven eras. So, there was not much hope from Dil Ka Kya Kasoor, although this was Lawrence D’Souza’s next after the iconic Saajan (1991). But Dil Ka Kya Kasoor became famous with the youth of that era and for that, the music had a big role to play. The title song ‘Dil Ka Kya Kasoor’ was moving and melodious. Sadhana Sargam’s voice once again worked wonders for Divya Bharti. The song also has a male version by Kumar Sanu. Another song from the film ‘Dil Jigar Nazar Kya Hai’ also became popular.
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5) 'Tujhe Na Dekhun To Chain' – Rang (1993)
In 1993, Divya Bharti was just around a year old in the Hindi film industry. Yet, she had become a known actress. Director Talat Jani’s Rang was a rare film where the female lead was more popular and talked about than her male counterpart. Apart from Bharti, Nadeem-Shravan’s music and, especially, the track ‘Tujhe Na Dekhun To Chain’ made the film popular. The song has simple lyrics and music. It is this simplicity that struck a chord with the music lovers. This song was also a duet between Kumar Sanu and Alka Yagnik.