Famous '90s Bollywood actress, Sakshi Shivanand left movies overnight after getting a threat from the underworld.
Back in the time, Bollywood and the underworld had a close connection. Many were scared to be part of the industry due to its ties with the black world. Every other day, stars would get threats from the dons. Many celebrities had faced the heat of the situation, including David Dhawan, Karan Johar, and more. One of them was the '90s famous actress Sakshi Shivanand.
It was in the year 1993, when Sakshi lived the dream of being a heroine with her debut Telugu film, Anna Vadina, which was a super hit. Later, she switched to Hindi cinema and was part of projects such as Janam Kundali, Papa Kehte Hain, and Jeeo Shaan Se. But her first innings in Hindi cinema didn't give her recognition, due to which she left Hindi cinema and started working in South films with top stars such as Chiranjeevi, Mammootty, and Arvind Swamy.
Destiny called her back to Hindi cinema as she was given the role in Aapko Pehle Bhi Kahin Dekha Hain. She also starred in a film opposite Govinda named Jahan Jaaeyega Hamen Paaeyga. She was slowly making her presence felt when another incident took all her courage to be part of the showbiz world. She was offered a film opposite Saif Ali Khan named Tum. She was ready for the big project, which could earn her recognition worldwide.
Sakshi, who was ready to start a bright future, was confronted by the producer she encountered, who allegedly had underworld connections. In an old interaction with DNA, Sakshi revealed that she was terrified when the producer turned out to be from the underworld. She revealed that people had told her Bollywood had a close connection, and it freaked her out. She ran away from Bollywood and started working on South Indian project. She was quoted as saying:
"I was terrified when the producer turned out to be from the underworld. I had everybody telling me that the underworld connection in Bollywood was very strong. I completely freaked out. I ran off to do Telugu and Kannada films."
Sakshi Shivanand was left scared by the producer's links with the underworld. So, she decided to abandon the film and made sure to never reach out in Hindi cinema. However, this ended her golden opportunity in Hindi cinema. She accepted in the same media interaction that she freaked out after the whole episode of underworld, and decided to leave the industry. Sakshi added that the producer of Tum reached out to her but she changed her number and chose to stay away from the media. She was quoted as saying:
"If I hadn't freaked out after the brush with the underworld I'd have continued here. But I ran away from the Hindi industry. I was really shaken up. The 'Tum' producer would call up, I had to change my number. No one knew where I was. That experience cost me my career in Hindi cinema. I had done Anubhav Sinha’s 'Aapko Pehle Bhi Kahin Dekha'. Though it wasn't a hit, I was noticed."
Sakshi went back to South Indian cinema. But she took fewer acting projects after the traumatic experience with the underworld. She was last seen in the 2014 Kannada film, Paramashiva. Interestingly, not many know that her sister, Shilpa Shivanand was the 'Doctor Riddhima' of Dil Mil Gaye.
What do you think about Sakshi Shivanand leaving Bollywood?
Next Read: Thailand Princess, Bajrakitiyabha Dies After Three Years In Coma, Who Will Become Next Thai Queen?