Ashutosh Gowariker on late actor Javed Khan Amrohi

“We shared a special bond,” starts off Swaroop Sampat Rawal as she remembers the Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi co-actor Javed Khan Amrohi. The actor, who has over 150 films to his credit, including Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Woh 7 Din, Tridev, Aashiqui, Lagaan, Andaz Apna Apna, Chak De! India and popular television show Nukkad, passed away on February 14, owing to lung failure. Sampat says that she shared a special connection with Amrohi. “Apart from our Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi, we had earlier worked together in Naram Garam and Na Khuda. Since Javed ji and I didn*t have cars, after we finished our shoots, he would [often] drop me [home] to ensure my safety. We both came from a theatrical background and shared a special bond. He knew my father [Bachu Sampat, a theatre artiste] well. In fact, Javed ji was my son Aniruddh*s teacher at Mumbai University,” adds Sampat.

Remembering the effortless acting of Amrohi in the Academy Award-nominated film Lagaan (2001), director Ashutosh Gowariker says, “Javed bhai was a lovely actor, who was an improvisational genius and great at [method acting] too. He was known for his straight-faced humour. His performance as Ram Singh was real and humorous, especially in his translations for Elizabeth and the match commentary. His contribution to theatre and film is immense.”