One of the best actresses in Hindi film, TV, and theatre, Surekha Sikri has given numerous acclaimed performances in her career of more than five decades. Her portrayals in “Tamas (1988),” “Mammo (1995),” and “Badhaai Ho (2018)” earned her the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress three times. Some of her other notable performances Parinati (1989), Sardari Begum (1995), Zubeidaa (2001), Balika Vadhu (2008), and many more.
Early Life and Career
Surekha Sikri was born on April 19, 1945, in New Delhi, but she spent her childhood in Almora and Nainital, where she also got her early education. Surekha then joined Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, for her higher education. Her father served in the Air Force, and her mother was a teacher, instilling in her the values of discipline and education.
She was at AMU when the great” Ibrahim Al Kazi” staged his play “King Lear” for the Drama Club. NSD forms and introductory pamphlets were distributed at the venue. Surekha filled out the form and, in 1968, joined the National School of Drama (NSD), graduating in 1971.
Sikri honed her craft with the NSD Repertory Company for over a decade. Her dedication to the stage was evident in her powerful portrayals in various productions. Sikri’s stage presence was magnetic, drawing audiences into the narrative with her compelling performances. She played “Helen of Troy” in her first play for Repertory, “The Trojan Women.” Some of her most acclaimed works include “Sandhya Chhaya,” a poignant play that explores the themes of loneliness and aging. In “Tughlaq,” a play written by Girish Karnad, she navigated the complex political landscape of Muhammad bin Tughlaq’s reign, while “Adhe Adhure” saw her masterfully tackle the intricacies of a dysfunctional family dynamic.
Surekha Sikri In Films
Sikri made her film debut in 1977 in Amrit Nahata’s political drama “Kissa Kursi Ka” and quickly became known for her supporting roles in Hindi and Malayalam films.
In 1989 she acted in Prakash Jha’s Parinati, alongside Basant Jsoalkar, Anang Desai and Nandiat Das. The film explores a Rajasthani family’s decaying morality and expanding greed, which culminate in a tragedy. The film is a poignant drama that blends with social critique. Her impish yet provocative performance stood out, marking her as a talent in arthouse cinema.
Some of her other notable performances come in Saeed Mirza’s Salim Langde Pe Mat Ro (1989), Mani Kaul‘s Nazar (1991), Saeed Mirza’s Naseem (1995), Fareeda Mehta’s Kali Salwar (2002), Aparna Sen’s Mr. and Mrs. Iyer (2003), and Rituparna Ghosh’s Raincoat (2004).
Collaboration with Shyam Benegal
Sikri was part of Shyam Benegal and Khalid Mohammad’s woman trilogy. In the first film, Sardari Begum (1996), which is a tragic story of a classical singer’s life, the singer is played by Kirron Kher and Smriti Mishara. Sikri acts as Ittan Bai, a senior singer mentoring young Sardari. The plot unfolds through a police investigation of Sardari’s death post-riot.
Directed by Shyam Benegal, Mammo (1995) follows an elderly Muslim woman, Mammo (Farida Jalal), returning to India. Sikri plays Fayyazi, Mammo’s sister, a kind-hearted figure. The story highlights family bonds and migration struggles. Her performance won her the second National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress.
The final film of the trilogy, Zubeidaa (2001), depicts the real-life story of Zubeida (Karishma Kapoor), an actress who married a prince. Sikri reprises Fayyazi, Zubeida’s mother, offering support amid turmoil. The plot explores love and sacrifice in royalty. Her nuanced portrayal earned praise, linking to her Mammo role.
Shyam Benegal’s Hari-Bhari Sikri portrays Hasina, a stern matriarch in a Muslim household alongside Shabana Azmi, Rajeshwari sachdeva and Nandita Das. The film addresses women’s fertility and issues surrounding it. The narrative spans three generations of women. Her commanding presence adds depth to the family dynamics. The film received the 2000 National Film Award for Best Film on Family Welfare.
Surekha Sikri On TV
In 1988, Surekha Sikri starred in Govind Nihalani‘s “Tamas” whichg was based on the story of Bhisham Sahni. The series depicts the partition’s horrors, through the personal stories of the characters. The series starred Om Puri, Deepa Sahi, Surekha Sikri, Saeed Jaffery, Pankaj Kapur, Amrish Puri, and Sahni himself. Sikri plays Rajo, a Sikh woman facing communal violence. Her role, though brief, captures resilience amid chaos. Tamas won the 1988 National Film Award for Best Feature Film. Critics praised Sikri’s intensity, earning her the first National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Surekha worked extensively on television, starting with Tamas (1988), followed by Bharat Ek Khoj (1988), Sanjha Chula (1990), Kirdaar (1993), Shikast (1993), Kabhie Kabhie (1997), Saher (2000), and many more.
She was also part of the cast in Gulzar‘s TV series “Tehreer… Munshi Premchand Ki,” where she played multiple characters from different stories of Prem Chand, like in Godan, where she played “Dhaniya” alongside Pankaj Kapur, who played Hori. She also played Dadi Amna in “Eid Gaah” in the same series.
In 2008, she was cast as Dadi Sa in “Balika Vadhu,” which won her the Indian Telly Award for Best Actress in a Negative Role in 2008 and Best Actress in a Supporting Role in 2011.
Badhaai Ho and Later Work
In 2018, came Amit Sharma’s Badhaai Ho (2018), starring Sikri with Neena Gupta, Gajraj Rao and Ayushmann Khurrana. The story starts with a happy family with a middle-aged couple, their two grown-up sons, and an old, cynical mother. Their world turns upside down when middle-aged Priyamvada (Neena Gupta) finds that she is expecting a child. The rest of the film shows how her family, relatives and society reacted to this. And how the cynical Dadi, played by Sikri, stands up for her daughter-in-law.
Her performance, balancing comedy and warmth, won her the third National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress, plus Filmfare and Screen Awards.
She also acted in Faraz Arif Ansari’s short film Sheer Qorma (2020) and the anthology film Ghost Stories (2020), directed by Zoya Akhtar. Her last film was Kya Meri Sonam Gupta Bewafa Hai? (2021).
Personal Life
Sikri was married to Hemant Rege, with whom she had a son, Rahul Sikri. After her husband’s passing in 2009, Sikri continued to inspire with her dedication to her craft. Sikri’s sister, Manara Sikri, also known as Parveen Murad, was married to Naseeruddin Shah. Their daughter, Heeba Shah, is very close to Surekha. Manara was previously married, already had children, and was living in Iran at the time. She was also 15 years older than Nasir. The unconventional match was opposed by Nasir’s family.
Surekha Sikri passed away on July 16, 2021, at the age of 76, after battling complications from two brain strokes. Her work continues to inspire actors and audiences alike, leaving a legacy that will be cherished for generations to come
Surekha Sikri on IMDB
