I have grown up seeing people in uniform as I come from Shimla, which was the headquarters of Army Western Command. I did plays with Army officers and met them when I was on my way to the school and college. I have the greatest regards for the Army and the people in services.

Because I spent a lot of time with people like Colonel Kaul of that time or later on General J P Gupta, I understood it all — discipline and living life with constant danger while protecting the nation.

Four years back, I was thrilled when I was asked to join the NCC Board, where I got the opportunity to meet the Army, Naval and Air Force chiefs. And it was also where I met General Bipin Rawat for the first time. A photo that I took with all of them felt like getting the biggest award. I thought he had such an amazing sense of humour; he also asked me, ‘Sab theek hai? Gharwale kaise hain?’ like a regular person. I also got the opportunity to tell him that I was in the NCC and showed him my ID.

I stayed in touch with him and conveyed that ‘main aapse milna chahta hun’. Hence, when I was in Delhi, he made time for me and I could meet him at South Block. I asked him, ‘Yeh jazba kahan se seekhte hain?’. To which he replied, ‘Hum jazbe ke sath paida hote hain aur fir yeh badhta jaata hai’. That one hour of conversation, where I took a picture shaking hands with him, was most amazing.

There was also this one time when I got a call (from his office) informing me that his wife (Madhulika Rawat) wanted to see my play in Delhi and the show was houseful. So, I had organised passes for her. After that, I got a call from General Rawat, who told me that his wife found my life ‘very inspirational’.

Then he became the Chief of Defence Staff and I met him when the oath ceremony was taking place at Lok Sabha aur jis garmjoshi ke saath woh mile, that was amazing. For me, he symbolises epitome of solidarity, courage and dignity... He was my role model.

It took me a lot of time to register what had happened with him. Millions of people like me, who felt sad about his sudden demise, will continue to remember him for his deshbhakti. I will cherish that handshake and can still feel its warmth. That handshake gave me a feeling that ‘everything will be okay with my country’.