I’ve seen her [work] since childhood; she is a brilliant actor. I met her in 2014 when I was shooting for Maha Kumbh where she played my dadi. I remember doing this scene, wherein I see her for the first time and realise that she is my grandmother, after just losing my mother in the show. It was an intense scene where I had to go and embrace her. But, I was scared to hug her because she had a thin and fragile frame. When I asked her how to approach the scene, she just said, “Do your work, just come and hug me.”

Even at that age, and health, she was so engrossed in her character, but I still needed to take her permission for the physical and emotional sequence. Surekhaji never made me feel awkward around her, which I believe is the power of great actors. Despite being so senior in the industry, she was humble and down-to-earth. Surekhaji was always respectful of everyone on the set — from me to junior artistes to the spot boys.