Subhash K Jha (DNA; October 17, 2017)

For all the flak and adverse press producer, Firoz Nadiadwala has received over the years, this one redeems him completely. For the past one year, he has been looking after all the medical expenses of filmmaker Neeraj Vora, who fell ill and is in a coma. A year ago, the producer went to Delhi and got Neeraj to Mumbai, to his home. Since then, Neeraj occupies a special room in Firoz’s bungalow where the ailing writer-director is attended to by a fleet of medical experts, nurses, and dieticians.

IT’S BEEN A YEAR
Reluctant to talk about his noble deed Firoz says, “It will be one year on October 19, since I got Neeraj to my home in Mumbai from AIIMS in Delhi, where the doctors had declared he would be dead in a few hours. Quite frankly, I don’t know what powers made me do what I did. I couldn’t leave him to die. He had nobody to look after him. Neeraj does have a brother, but he is financially incapable of shouldering the responsibility. I’ve known Neeraj for 12 years. We’ve worked together in several films and we’ve shared a close bond. How could I leave him there to die? How would I’ve lived with myself if I had been so callous?”

Firoz still recalls the day when he decided to step in and save his friend’s life. “I don’t know what got into me. I hired an air ambulance to bring Neeraj to Mumbai from Delhi. I must confess, my heart was in my mouth. If Neeraj had passed away during that journey, or even after landing, I’d have been in serious legal and moral trouble. Luckily, God was on my side. He willed that Neeraj live and I be the tool to save his life. I sincerely believe we are all instruments of God brought to earth to do His will.”

'NEERAJ IS RECOVERING SLOWLY'
Neeraj has been slowly recovering under Firoz’s care. “I’ve set aside a room in my house for him. That’s been his home for the past year. The room has pictures of his parents. His father used to play the instrument veena. We have that music playing in his room. We have Hanuman Chalisa recited for him… All that is familiar to Neeraj is there for him. Plus, there are four attendants — two each for the day and night shifts — to look after him round-the-clock, a dietician, neuro-surgeons, a cook, who lives close by and makes all the special food that Neeraj has to be fed through his stomach (he can’t eat through his mouth). Under all this care, Neeraj is recovering slowly. Inshallah, one day soon he will be fully recovered. We also have a Criticare Hospital right next to my home for emergencies.”

Firoz wants to thank all those who have been inquiring about and visiting Neeraj. “Aamir Khan, Akshay Kumar, Ashutosh Gowariker and Neeraj’s friend Mandeep Desai have all been constant visitors during the past one year. Aamir and Akshay come regularly and place their hands on Neeraj’s head. Everyone’s prayers have worked. Neeraj is recovering. I want to thank all of them.”

Firoz feels no sense of greatness in doing what very few would do. “Arrey, what else could I have done? Left him to die? This is the only option I had. I’ve not done anything great. Anyone in my place would have done the same. You think not? Then I don’t know. It seems the right thing to do for me.” As for his reputation for bounced cheques and other trespasses, Firoz says, “People have spoken about a few lakhs that I owed them. No one has spoken about the crores that are owed to me. People forget that money is of no use when your luck runs out. I want my fraternity to help build a fund for technicians and artistes who are in distress.”