K. Bhagyaraj, a veteran filmmaker, actor, and writer in the Tamil film industry, died on June 27 after a cardiac arrest. Several leading personalities from cinema and politics paid their last respects to the departed filmmaker while fans turned up in large numbers to bid farewell. Among them, actress Urvashi was missing. She made her debut as a lead heroine in 1983 with the blockbuster film ‘Munthanai Mudichu’ under the direction of Bhagyaraj. The actress finally spoke about her decision, and her absence was discussed on social media.
Urvashi chooses silence over public display
In an interview with Galatta, Urvashi addressed the criticism and explained why she chose not to visit Bhagyaraj’s mortal remains. “People kept asking why I didn’t come, but there was a reason behind that. If I had gone there, everyone would have expected a reaction from me. I did not want to display my grief in front of the media,” she said. She added, “My sir’s soul knows how much I respected him, and his family knows it too. That is enough for me.” The actress revealed that she had personally spoken to Poornima Bhagyaraj after the veteran filmmaker’s passing and conveyed her condolences privately instead of mourning in public.
Urvashi’s personal way of coping with loss
Urvashi admitted that she was emotionally not strong enough to face the situation. “I don’t have the strength to handle such a loss in public. There was no need for me to become overly emotional before cameras or create emotional drama,” she said. She also said the public reaction is often judged irrespective of the degree of its genuineness. “Some people would say the emotions are real; some people would say the emotions are fake. I didn’t want there to be any room for that sort of discussion. Sometimes we cannot even control our own emotions,” she explained. Her heartfelt clarification has received support from many fans, who appreciated her honesty and respected her personal way of grieving.
‘Munthanai Mudichu’ actress holds on to the memories that matter
Recalling her relationship with Bhagyaraj, Urvashi said she always considered herself one of his favourite students. “He always wanted me to smile. He never liked seeing me cry,” she remembered. Explaining why she stayed away from the funeral, she said, “If I had gone there, I would have broken down. I did not have the strength to see him lying there. In my heart, he is still alive, smiling and walking around happily. That is how I want to remember him. I never wanted to see him inside an ice box.” Her heartfelt words have resonated with fans, bringing home to many that grief is an intensely personal experience and that love for a mentor cannot be quantified simply by one’s public presence at a farewell.
