Actor Vikram Gokhale, who died on November 26 in Pune, was last seen on screen in Nikamma, directed by Sabbir Khan and starred Shilpa Shetty Kundra and Abhimanyu Dassani. Khan reveals that the veteran’s last project, titled Adbhut, also directed by him is yet to be released.

Revealing that Gokhale will be seen in his next film, which he finished shooting recently, the director tells us, “Our relationship was recent but very strong. I first met him (Gokhale) in 2019, while working on Nikamma. He was 74 then, and despite being a veteran actor, he wanted to give his best. After finishing the shoot, he asked me if I was happy with his work, if I would work with him again.” Khan says it was an awkward moment as he was taken aback by how grounded Gokhale was.

The 46-year-old says that when he approached Gokhale for Adbhut, the actor was unwell. “He wasn’t accepting any offers, but after I narrated the role to him, he agreed to do it,” shares the director, adding that he had initially planned to shoot the actor’s scenes in Manali, but on his request, had agreed to do it in Mumbai. However, when the schedule in Manali began, Gokhale reached out to Khan and said it would be wrong of him to not be there.

“He came with us to Manali and shot. He was so full of life. He would just sit around even after his shot and say, ‘I will have my tea. If you need me, I am here’. They don’t make actors like him anymore,” Khan signs off.