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Twenty years after her death, the true story of Lavani and Tamasha legend Vithabai Narayangaonkar continues to tug at the heartstrings. The folk artist, who was immensely popular and had won presidential awards for her strong performances, died in January 2002 at KEM Hospital in Mumbai at the age of 74 due to a paralyzing attack, leaving her with no means to support herself.

Her family, who were already grieving, were further humiliated as they could not afford the ₹5,900 hospital charges and had to leave her body without taking her to the place for her last rites in their native land of Narayangaon. They managed to collect only ₹4000, and later on, the balance was raised from the help of a social worker, Dr. Banoo Coyaji, and other well-wishers.

Shraddha Kapoor's upcoming biopic Eetha is going to tell this touching story of a life lived with passion, struggle, and poverty in the world of art. The teaser of Shraddha as a pregnant Vithabai giving birth behind the scenes and coming back on the stage has sparked renewed interest in the icon's superhuman and heart-wrenching journey.