Producer Firoz Nadiadwala talks about Neeraj Vora’s demise.
Today, on December 14th, 2017 filmmaker and actor Neeraj Vora, 54, passed away in Andheri’s Criti Care Hospital. Today is a sad day for Bollywood and Producer Firoz Nadiadwala. We have lost a bright star whereas Firoz has lost his friend and brother.
Neeraj Vora made us all laugh with his comic roles in movies like ‘Welcome Back’, ‘Bol Bachchan’, ‘Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman’ and many more. He even directed films like ‘Khiladi 420’ and ‘Phir Hera Pheri’.
Midst directing ‘Hera Pheri 3’, Neeraj suffered a heart attack and a stroke. He was in a coma till his demise. Neeraj was admitted in New Delhi’s AIIMS hospital. Doctors there declared that the filmmaker would be dead in a few hours. Still, Firoz hired an air ambulance and brought Vora to Mumbai.
The producer realized the possible consequences of his actions, “I have to confess my heart was in my mouth. If Neeraj had passed away during that journey from Delhi to Mumbai, or even after landing, I would have been in serious legal and moral trouble.”
Firoz converted a room in his house into a makeshift ICU. Everyday Vora was attended by a fleet of four medical experts who took day and night shifts, neuro-surgeons, nurses, dieticians and a cook. Given his comatose state, he had to be fed through his stomach. Vora’s room had pictures of his parents and family adorning the wall. His father was a classical musician and used to play the veena. In addition to his father’s classical music, Hanuman Chalisa would be playing in Vora’s room all the time.
Firoz shouldered all the medical expenses. Announcing his colleague’s demise, Firoz said, “He passed away at 4 a.m. on Thursday. I’ve lost the battle to save my brother and friend from the clutches of death. His health had improved so much. But it deteriorated suddenly on Friday. He had to be shifted to hospital. But it was no use. We lost him.”
The producer added, “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 did have a brother. But he was financially incapable of shouldering the responsibility. I had known Neeraj for 12 years. We have worked together in several films and we have shared a close bonding. How could I leave him there to die? How would I have lived with myself if I had been so callous?”
Many will view this act as an act of kindness but Firoz Nadiawala’s actions were merely acts of humanity.
Neeraj Vora’s cremation is being held at Santacruz Crematory. Currently, Abhishek Bachchan among other celebrities have started arriving at the venue.
