farooq-sheik-happy-birthday“ He has passed away” was what the world got to know last night. Veteran actor Farooq Sheikh suffered a heart attack when he was in Dubai for a concert and soon his dead body will be brought to Mumbai for the funeral. And we are yet to believe his demise.

Born on March 25, 1948, Farooq Sheikh acted in a number of television serials and films. Best known for his performances in movies like Noorie, Umrao Jaan, Chashme Buddoor, Bazaar and the most recent one Shanghai, he received a National film award in Best supporting actor category for Lahore. He was active in theater too and tremendously admired for one of his famous stage productions, Tumhari Amrita in which he performed alongside Shabana Azmi. He was also a popular host of a Zee TV show called Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai in which he interviewed many film stars. His latest film was Club 60 and before that we saw him in Listen…Amaya and Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani.

In one of his interviews to the media, he once said, “I have led a very ordinary life and don’t think it would be of much interest to anybody.” How wrong was he to think this because today the whole film industry is saddened by the loss of this incredible actor and wonderful human being. The celebrities are mourning his death on the social networking sites and his fans all over the world are paying tribute to him. Expressing his grief and state of shock, Amitabh Bachchan tweeted: Farooq Sheikh !! Cannot believe he has gone. There was an absence of any kind of pretence in his demeanour, or towards his work !!

Another heartfelt tweet came from the filmmaker Shekhar Kapur who wrote: RIPFarooqShaikh. The last time we met, we talked politics. I wish we had talked film and acting. Its what we love most. I would have learned. Other renowned personalities who took to twitter to condole his death include Mahesh Bhatt, Shobhaa De, Kunal Kohli, Anupam Kher, Divya Dutta, Boman Irani, Karan Johar, Farah Khan and none other than Shahrukh Khan who remorsefully confessed, “My biggest regret that I never got to spend time with you, Faroukh sahib, as I had requested. Should have done it earlier.

Farooq Sheikh was a true exemplar of the adage “ Simple Living, High Thinking” and he did his best for the welfare of the society too. He taught us through his films that a role needn’t be long but big in whatever field it is. We will always miss this thorough gentleman whose face and smile will forever linger in our memories.