He was like family," says Kamal Haasan, yet to come to terms with the death of brother-friend SP Balasubrahmanyam, who breathed his last on the afternoon of September 25, in a Chennai hospital where he was being treated for COVID-19 since August. Commemorating their friendship that lasted over 50 years, the actor who addressed him as brother says, "[Coming to terms with his death] is not going to happen in a day."

SPB, as people lovingly called him, and Haasan shared a mutual admiration. "Even when I was just a beginner, he was proud of me. He has been a part of my romance, happiness, melancholy, first love and marriage as well," reminisces the actor, adding, "He was an unabashed fan of Kamal Hassan, and was vocal about it, [which] embarrassed me. He would often pinch my cheeks, compliment me for my work and ask me to get back to work. I never spoke about his singing, the world did. I would just be there, brimming with tears, proud of my brother."