ETimes contacted Manoj Bajpayee who has collaborated with him on various projects. In an exclusive interview, Manoj recalled working with Asif, the last time he saw the late actor, and more. Excerpts …
The shocking news of Asif Basra’s death has shaken Bollywood once again …
It is very shocking to know that Asif no longer exists. We are still accepting your loss. I have worked with him on a couple of projects. The last thing I worked with him was on a web series. He was talking about staying in Dharamshala. He chose not to stay in Mumbai. He talked a lot about his home there. Now, I found out that he passed away in the same place. I don’t know exactly how it all happened, but it is a very deep feeling. I don’t know how to answer this.
How did you find out about this?
I found out when I was checking Twitter and suddenly this news started popping up. I was completely taken aback.
When was the last time you met him?
I worked with him on a web series just before closing. He was such a carefree person. He always laughed and made jokes. I can’t believe it no longer exists.
Were you in contact with him during the confinement?
I wasn’t exactly in touch with him. It was someone I worked with. However, we never stayed that long. We enjoy being together on set. I enjoyed his sense of humor. I loved the fact that it came from the theater. We share a great camaraderie on set.
How was Asif as an actor and as a person?
He was a brilliant actor. There is no doubt about it. He was of theatrical origin. He had a lot of experience. He had a great understanding of his craft and acting ability. As a person, he was a happy person. He loved peace and that was one of the reasons why he decided to stay in Dharamshala. Very few chose to stay outside of Mumbai. Big cities are losing their charm. It was a brave step and I appreciated that he put his peace and happiness above all else.
What are your best memories with him?
When we were filming for our web series, he used to laugh between scenes when I was acting. It was uncontrollable. It was a serious scene but, at the same time, it was funny in nature. We used to have lunch together and have long conversations about our professions, about the hills, about Mumbai and many things.
What will you miss the most about him?
I will completely miss him as an actor and as a person. I will miss his smiling face that was not completely in love with the big city and glamor. This is what it was. He was completely oblivious to the city’s cosmopolitan nature and greed. He was at complete peace with himself. I don’t know what made him take this step.
Are you planning to visit his family?
I will definitely give it a try, but I don’t know where his family is. I will try to find out. In fact, many of us who knew him are already trying to get in touch with his family.
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