How do you remember a young, good-looking man who bade the world adieu just when he was at the peak of everything? How do you remember an actor like Sidharth Shukla, who was friends with half of the television industry but never name-dropped? Well, just the way his best friend Vidyut Jammwal did. The actor hosted an Instagram live this noon, and heaped praise on his friend, the late Sidharth Shukla.
Vidyut started with detailing how Sidharth was the most well-dressed guy in the gym he started going to in the year 2004. He said there was nobody who wasn't scared of him - courtesy his physique, and there was nobody who did not love him - courtesy his inherent warmth. Vidyut said Sidharth was warm towards everybody he met.
Vidyut Jammwal also gave the reason why Sidharth was such a 'mard' - he was raised by three wonderful women-his mother, and two elder sisters. "And men who are raised by women go on to become real men," he said. He added Sidharth's mother would feed him with home-made food when they were younger - a luxury for people coming from other cities of India.
Vidyut also told his followers that Sidharth used to lend him his Hayabusa bike when he wanted to take his girlfriends out for a date. While speaking, Vidyut's eyes welled up a couple of times, as he remembered his dear friend.
Vidyut also spoke at length about one of the most endearing qualities of Sidharth's - he never used to talk about girls, even the ones he dated. "Whenever someone asked him about a girl he was rumoured to be dating, he would ignore the question. Some people say we are just friends, he would simply ignore the question. He would never mention a girl. Such a man he was!" Vidyut said.
Vidyut added he was jealous of the love Sidharth had for his mother. "I used to think I was the best son ever, until I met Sidharth," he said.
Vidyut also said that Sidharth hated the pap culture. "He was the only actor I know who did not disclose his location to the paparazzi. He respected them, but never let them know where he was going," Vidyut said. He also said he flaunted the fact that he was Shukla's friend.
One anecdote that really made us teary-eyed was - Sidharth loved the song 'Knock, Knock! Tera Baap Aaya...' - often dedicated to him by the Bigg Boss makers and his fans and followers - for his wit and intelligence. Coincidentally, this song has originally been picturised on Vidyut for his movie 'Commando 3'. To this end, Vidyut said the song really belonged to Sidharth, and there's nobody who can justify it more than him. "You could not beat him in verbal duels. He had the wit, and the best part is he knew he had it. He could not lose," he said, adding, "Sidharth was the only man I know who was so well-read, well-bred and so well-versed in Hindi and English both."
Vidyut signed off by saying that when he went to attend Sidharth's last rites, he did not have courage to speak to his mother. But he felt proud of him as people stood there with folded hands. He reiterated he was proud of the man Sidharth Shukla was. "I am proud of him; sahi banda thha, mard thha," he said, adding he knows he was at the peak of everything when he left. "Chalaa gaya par shaan se gaya. He was happy when he left; I know he was happy."
The late Sidharth Shukla often said Vidyut was his best friend, though they hardly were clicked together. This certainly goes to show how private Sidharth was. Sidharth's alleged relationship with Shehnaaz Gill started on national television - on Bigg Boss 13, but he never really spoke about it too. Sidharth eventually won BB13 and Shehnaaz was declared the second runner-up.
Sidharth breathed his last in the wee hours of September 2, reportedly in his lady love Shehnaaz Gill's lap. She has since been in an inconsolable state, and reports say she is gradually slipping into depression. Sidharth's last rites were performed on September 3. He is survived by his mother and two sisters.
Image Source: Instagram/mevidyutjammwal/realsidharthshukla