I really loved Shiv; at one point, he was very close to me. I remember this bright, young man who came to me [at] Naseeruddin Shah’s [behest]. This was in 1983, at the time of the making of Saeed Mirza’s Mohan Joshi Hazir Ho. I was the chief assistant on the sets. Shiv was a writer, and being in theatre, he was part of Naseer’s coterie. Naseer asked me to look after Shiv and show him around.

We would get into heated arguments over Brecht and Shaw, and other poets. He co-wrote Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin, Chameli and Hazaaron Khwaishe Aisi, with me. We worked on Hazaaron Khwaishe Asi for six months, and Shiv, Swanand Kirkire and I wrote Chameli in 15 days. I called Shiv and we worked together night and day. Shiv’s contribution to Chameli cannot be overlooked. Chameli was our last piece of writing together. We were really close at one point of time. I don’t think I have spent that much time with somebody.