Veteran actor Yusuf Husain, known for featuring in films such as Dhoom 2, Vivah (both 2006) and Raees (2017), died on Saturday due to Coronavirus. He was 73. Husain’s son-in-law, filmmaker Hansal Mehta, confirmed that the actor died at Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai.

Mehta also penned an emotional note for Husain, recalling how the late actor had helped him financially after his film Shahid (2012) was stuck after two schedules. “I was troubled. A non-existent career as a filmmaker was almost finished completely. He just came up to me and said I have a fixed deposit and it is of no use to me if you are so troubled. He wrote a cheque. Shahid was completed. That was Yusuf Husain. Not my father-in-law but a father....(sic),” Mehta tweeted.

Actor Abhishek Bachchan, who worked with Husain in his upcoming thriller, Bob Biswas, also paid his condolences: “...He was gentle, kind and full of warmth. Condolences to his family”. Mehta’s close friend, actor Manoj Bajpayee tweeted, “Sad News! Condolences to the entire family...”.

Celebrities including actors Ayushmann Khurrana, Renuka Shahane and Kubbra Sait as well as filmmakers Reema Kagti and Nikkhil Advani also mourned the loss.