Talented, beautiful, and charming, Richa Sharma was there to stay, but fate has another plan for her. After a whirlwind of romance, marriage, and motherhood, she starts a battle with a deadly disease, which she lost at the young age of 32.
Early Life
Richa Sharma was born on August 6, 1964, in Delhi, to Kailash and Mina Sharma. Kailash Sharma, with his family, relocated to Afghanistan and later New York due to his work. She had two sisters, Enna and Abha Sharma. Richa grew up in a multicultural environment, exposed to Indian and Western influences. Her nickname was “Richu.” She developed an interest in acting as a teenager.
Richa completed her schooling in New York. She attended college in New York for two years. Her education was interrupted by her acting aspirations, which led her to return to India for her debut. In 1978, at 14, she met Dev Anand during the New York premiere of “Des Pardes” and boldly asked him for a role. Imresed, Dev Anand advised her to finish her studies. He gave her his contact details and promised a role later.
Richa Sharma on Screen
True to his words, Dev saab launched her in “Hum Naujawaan,” opposite Bunty Behl in 1985. The drama features Richa as Rashmi, a student entangled in a murder case. Her fresh, youthful performance alongside Dev Anand and Tabu caught attention, launching her brief career.
Her second film was Kashinath’s “Anubhav (1986),” with Shekhar Suman and Padmini Kolhapure. The film was an adult drama with themes of extramarital relationships and sexual waywardness. In the film, Richa played the role of Bijli, a girl who is assured of her beauty and knows how to use it. The film was notorious for its steamy scenes and bold themes.
That same year, she appeared in “Insaaf Ki Awaaz,” with Rekha and Anil Kapoor. In 1987, she acted in Anil Ganguly’s “Sadak Chhap” with Jackie Shroff and Padmini Kolhapure. The same year came Shibu Mitra’s “Aag Hi Aag,” with Dharmendra, Moushumi Chatterjee, Shatrughan Sinha, Chunky Pandey and Neelam, which was her last film.
Richa Sharma with Sanjay Dutt
n 1987, Sharma’s personal life took a fairy-tale turn when she married Sanjay Dutt. Richa first met Sanjay Dutt in 1982 in the United States, where Sanjay was seeking treatment for drug addiction. Their romance began in 1986 at the inauguration of a film at Hotel Sea Rock, Mumbai. Richa, initially hesitant due to his playboy image, accepted his proposal in 1987. They married in New York in October 1987 in a private ceremony.
The couple’s union was celebrated in the media, and they welcomed a daughter, Trishala Dutt, on August 10, 1988. However, barely two years into their marriage, Sharma was diagnosed with a brain tumour.
The Battle Against Cancer
The battle with cancer was a tough one for Sharma. She moved to New York for treatment, creating distance. She underwent treatment, including surgery and chemotherapy. It was during her treatment in New York that media reports suggest she learned of her husband’s affair. Despite the personal turmoil, Sharma showed immense courage and determination, and successfully faught of the cancer.
After getting better, Richa returned to India in 1992 to save the marriage. Reports suggest Richa felt mentally harassed by the rumors, as noted in her poignant letter shared by Trishala in 2016. Sanjay and Richa driffted apart. Sanjay maintained a distant but ongoing relationship with Trishala, who lived with her maternal grandparents.
But the respite was short lived as her fight against the illness was marked by periods of recovery and relapse. The tumor’s return in 1993 was a devastating blow. Sharma’s health declined rapidly. During this period, her husband faced legal troubles, which added to the complexity of her situation. Despite these challenges, Sharma’s focus remained on her health and her daughter. She gone back to New York to continue the treatment. Despite her efforts, the cancer proved terminal. Her condition worsened with time.
Richa Sharma’s eight year battle with cancer came to an end on December 10, 1996, at her parents’ home in Bayside, Queens, New York, at age 32. Her struggle was not just against a disease but also against the trials life threw at her.
Richa Sharma on IMDB
