The sudden demise of Rishi Kapoor and Randhir Kapoor’s younger brother, Rajiv Kapoor, on Tuesday afternoon, came as a shock to the film industry. Rajiv Kapoor, who was 58, suffered a massive heart attack and was declared dead on arrival by doctors when brother Randhir Kapoor rushed him to the hospital. ETimes reached out to Anees Bazmee, who had been collaborating with the late actor for years now, and the writer-director expressed his grief, sighing, “Rajiv was like a dear friend. I just can’t believe this sad news. It’s a huge loss to the Kapoor family”.

Anees is all praise for his departed friend as he says, “As a director, he had a vision, just like his late father Raj Kapoor. However, success eluded him”. Talking about their association, Anees informs, “I had written a film, ‘Hum Toh Chale Pardes’ for him but we both had assisted Raj Kapoor for his films. I had spent four years of my career in the iconic RK Studios and during those years, I was closely working with Rajiv. Not only that, whenever we went for outdoor shoots, we shared rooms. Post that, I pursued a career in writing and he had told me that he wanted me to write a film for him.”

The filmmaker is deeply saddened by the news and is praying for the bereaved family. “We often used to meet each other due to work or even otherwise as he was a very close friend of mine. I just cannot express in words how sad I am feeling. I am in a state of shock and very disturbed right now. May Allah give him a secure place in heaven; my deep condolences to the family members. For the past few years, we have been listening to such sad news, but this is the most saddening as it is a personal loss for me,” he admits.