I left 'Club 60' midway overwhelmed by memories of Farooque Shaikh, says Raghubir Yadav

Raghubir Yadav worked with Farooque Shaikh first in Maya Memsaab and then in Club 60. Both films were made 22 years apart, yet Yadav testifies that the time gap meant nothing as old friends caught up after decades.
Farooque Shaikh's 67th birth anniversary is observed today, March 25.
READ: 10 cinematic masterpieces of Farooque Shaikh
Emotion was palpable in Yadav's voice as he rewound their warm association. He said, "Farooque Sahab bohot suljhi hui shakhsiyat the.The way we shot Club 60 amid such laughter and merriment, it is impossible to believe he would leave us so soon. We had finished shooting, and I remember the last time we met was for the film's promotion at the Press Club in New Delhi. As we parted, he said, 'Khuda haafiz. Jaldi milti hain.' Phir toh bas unki khabar hi mili. He was not even at an age when he had to bid goodbye. The Almighty alone knows what is in store."
In a unique departure from previous roles, in Club 60, Farooque Shaikh had to express irritation with his pestilential neighbour Manubhai (Yadav) who imposes upon his life and his home without a care. Manubhai sits down to a feast of parathas at the breakfast table without being invited. On another occasion, even after Shaikh Sahab firmly requests to be excused, Manubhai returns with cake to celebrate the birthday of Shaikh's son who has passed away.
"Yes, I once said, Shaikh Sahab, aaj aapne zyada hi daant diya. He laughed and so did I. That was the last shot, after that it was pack-up,'' says Yadav.
READ: Imagine my loss if I had never met Farooque Shaikh, says Rekha Sahai
Raghubir Yadav and Farooque Shaikh have worked together before in Maya Memsaab. Shaikh was Dr Charu while Yadav played a wayside faqir. He says, "We did not have any scenes together so we did not speak much. But that was in 1991 and Club 60 was in 2013, and I could see that nothing about Farooque Sahab had changed in these 20-odd years."
"I have watched his cinematic journey and I know he came from IPTA theatre. More than anything else, it amazes me that over a lifespan of 65 years not one person I know has made a single negative comment about Farooque Shaikh. Neither did he say a single bad thing about anybody. Na padhne mein aaya na sunne mein aaya. Yeh unka itihaas hai."
His pain welled over during the time of the film's release. Yadav says, "I simply could not sit through the show. Tabiyat hi nahin ki. A rush of memories overwhelmed me and I had to leave the theatre midway. We had shot Club 60 in Pune and had come back to Mumbai, and through it all, Farooque Sahab was wearing a smile on his face and making jokes. Nothing appeared to be amiss. Mujhe qatai'i bhi, bilkul bhi, zara bhi yaqeen nahin hua jab woh aise achanak chale gaye."
Yadav remembers the phone conversations they had, and treasures the warm text messages he received. He says, "Sahih rishta qayamat tak nahin toot-ta. I was present for the final darshan at his apartment building in Highland Park. The entire team of Club 60 was there - Sanjay Tripathy, Vineet Kumar, Tinnu Anand, Sarika ji. When I saw him I felt I would faint, main ghash na kha jaaoon. He lay there so peacefully. And to think we would never be able to see him or speak to him again. Zindagi mein chand jo dhakke lagte hain, yeh unmein se ek hai. Main Farooque Sahab ko bhool nahin pa raha hoon."
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