although Sanjeev Kumar Popular as one of the best actors in Hindi cinema, fans still feel his void due to his untimely death. Died in November 1985 at the age of 47. Sachin Pilgaonkar once shared a heartbreaking story that he was supposed to have his last meeting with his close friend Sanjeev Kumar, but the meeting never happened as the legendary actor passed away before meeting him.Despite their age differences, Sachin and Sanjeev Kumar developed a deep friendship based on trust and mutual respect. In an old interview with Bollywood Aaj Aur Kal, Sachin recalled that Sanjeev had asked him to visit early one morning but his arrival was postponed due to work commitments. By the time he reached the actor’s residence later that afternoon, Sanjeev Kumar had breathed his last.Recalling their last conversation, Sachin said he met Sanjeev Kumar a day ago when Sanjeev Kumar was dubbing.“I went to his house to meet him. In fact, I had met him the day before when he was dubbing. I told him I wanted to meet him the next day. He said, ‘Come in the morning.’ I told him I would come around 2 o’clock or 2:30 in the afternoon. He asked, ‘Can’t you come earlier? ‘ I said I had something to finish first and then I would come. He said, ‘Okay. ‘”When Sachin arrived around 2:30 pm the next day, his family told him that Sanjeev Kumar was in his room.“I asked him where he was and they told me he was taking a shower in the room. I waited for about half an hour. Then I asked him if he was not feeling well. They said yes, he was not feeling well, and his secretary went to bring the doctor. After a while, Jamnadesh Ji came with Dr. Gandhi. I asked what had happened. They said he had vomited. He had only come home the night before and one night before, about three o’clock in the morning.Sachin remembers being frustrated that Sanjeev continued to work even though he was unwell.“I said, ‘He is not well and he works late into the night? What is this?’ I told them that when I met him, I would scold him. He was my friend, philosopher and guide. Our relationship was so close that there was nothing we could not discuss with each other.” Time passed and Sachin sensed that something was seriously wrong. What bothered him most was that no one seemed willing to enter Sanjeev Kumar’s room.“I started to feel something was wrong. He never took this long. No one wants to go in. I thought I would go by myself. I think the worst case scenario is that he might change. I would apologize and close the door. “Then he finally pushed open the bedroom door and was greeted by a devastating scene. At first, I couldn’t see anyone. Then I noticed two feet on the carpet. I walked forward and saw him lying face down on the floor with one hand reaching toward the door. I screamed and called the doctor immediately.Although doctors tried to save the actor, it was too late. The doctor came in, turned him over and tried to pump air out of his chest. He then told us that he had been dead for a long time. The ground beneath my feet suddenly slipped. “Sanjeev Kumar died of a massive heart attack on November 6, 1985. He is only 47 years old. Over the next few years, several of his colleagues reflected on the lifestyle choices that may have contributed to his worsening health. Veteran actor Parikshit Sahni had claimed that Sanjeev’s hectic work schedule, heavy drinking and late-night eating habits took a toll on him.“He had bad habits. After the shooting, he drank a lot. He also ate a lot… That’s why he died. He had a heart attack,” Sani said in an interview. Achin Pilgaonkar also spoke about Sanjeev Kumar renting a separate one-bedroom apartment in Mumbai’s Pali Hill so that he could enjoy non-vegetarian food, which was not allowed at his home.According to Sachin, the apartment became a regular hangout for close friends like Shammi Kapoor, Shatrughan Sinha and Randhir Kapoor, where they would drink for hours before sitting down for late-night meals of Paya and Nihari.“So he would order paya, nihari. Sanjeev Kumar, Shammi Kapoor, Shatrughan Sinha, Randhir Kapoor and I, we would all eat together there. The paya would have to be reheated 4-5 times because we would keep drinking it till 5 am and then we would eat the paya. We would eat it with naan from the bakery and enjoy it. ” he recalled in a chat with Kunal Vijayakar.Another anecdote that has resurfaced after Sanjeev Kumar’s death comes from late actor Tabasum, who once spoke about the actor’s fascination with playing older characters. She revealed that Sanjeev once revealed to her that a palm reader predicted that he would not live long.“He told me, ‘A palmist once said I wouldn’t live long and see old age. That’s why I play older characters in movies – to experience a stage of life on screen that I may never get to live in real life.'” Despite being in his late 30s and early 40s, Sanjeev Kumar carved memorable older characters in films like “Sholay”, “Mausam”, “Sawaal” and “Trishul” that remain among the most celebrated performances of his career.
