Tumhari Amrita: Shabana Azmi remembers Farooq Shaikh & their last play in front of Taj Mahal, says, ‘I can never…’

Veteran actor Farooq Shaikh, who made his debut in Hindi cinema with Garam Hawa in 1974, passed away on December 28, 2013. And Shabana Azmi remembered the time when she worked with him very fondly in a heartfelt note.

The veteran actress shared a picture of the actor on her Instagram account and remembered the time when they worked together. She wrote- “10 years .. I remember so clearly that on 14th Dec we did our last show of Tumhari Amrita in front of the Taj Mahal. I remarked that we can never find a venue to match the Taj and that it should be our last show since we had been playing it for 22 years .”

She added, ” Pat came your reply “ why should we pull the curtains on Tumhari Amrita – we will do it for another 22 years!”14 days later you were gone … and with it were washed away a deep friendship of 40 years .. I can never play Amrita again with my Zulfi gone …I miss you Firkee.”

How late actor Farooq Shaikh secretly helped a 26/11 victim’s family

The late actor read a story in one of the leading newspapers The Indian Express few days after the attack in December 2008, and decided to fund the education of the victim’s children. The name of the victim who lost his life in the attacks was Rajan Kamble, who worked as a maintenance worker at the Taj Hotel. Shaikh’s decision to fund Kamble’s children’s education stemmed from the emotional turf his story walked on.

Kamble’s wife Shruti’s statement

While the Taj management has taken care of us, if not for Sheikh sa’ab, my children couldn’t have dreamed of making it so far. Today I can finally tell my sons that this was the stranger who looked after us when everyone we called our own gave up.

By the time they knew who the angel in their lives were, Shaikh passed away in December 2013.

Can’t believe he is gone: Shaba Azmi on Farooq Shaikh

Shabana Azmi, Farooq Shaikh’s co-star for 21 years in the popular play “Tumhari Amrita” who had also worked with the actor in several films, was devastated with the news of his sudden death.

One of Indian cinema’s finest actors, Farooque was on a holiday with his wife and two daughters in Dubai when he suddenly died of a massive heart attack in December 2013.

Devastated by the suddenness of the tragedy, Shabana said: “I can’t believe he’s gone so suddenly and so cruelly! Farooq was in Dubai with his wife and daughters when he suddenly suffered a massive heart attack. He just collapsed! Just like that. Is that any way to go?”

Tumhari Amrita: Shabana Azmi remembers Farooq Shaikh & their last play in front of Taj Mahal, says, ‘I can never…’Read More