India has lost another jewel in Farooq Shaikh's demise: Manish Tewari

Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari obn Saturday said that the Indian cultural scene has lost another jewel in the demise of Farooq Shaikh.

"Farooq Sheikh was a versatile actor whose performances were sterling and scintilating. In his untimely death we have lost another jewel," said Tewar.

Actor Deepti Naval, who performed with Shaikh in a number of movies and theatre plays, said: "It is hard to digest,its shattering news.I feel a part of me is gone.

Senior BJP leader Balbir Punj said: “I remember Farooq Shaikh’s smiling face. I believe Hindi cinema has experienced a great loss with his demise.

Congress leader Meem Afzal said: “ I am very sad, as he was an old friend. I find very few people as talented, knowledgeable and as socially active as him. He was always concerned about social issues. His only condition for extending any kind of help was that his name should not come out.

“This is an aspect of his life that I have hardly seen in any other individual. It is not just a loss to the film industry, but for the entire nation,” he added.

“It is a very sad news. I had a chance to share the stage with him. He was an immensely talented soul for both the stage and big cinema. I express my deep sadness,” Afzal said further

Film director Madhur Bhandarkar said: “Farooqji will remain in our hearts always.He was the symbol of the young middle class man.

“Its shocking.He(Farooq Shaikh) was a thorough gentleman. Through his characters and ability, he was loved by millions,” said BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar.

Congress leader Rajiv Shukla said: “ I don't think we will get another actor like Farooq Shaikh. It is a big loss.

“Its come as a shock. He(Farooq Shaikh) was a genius and a gem of a person. Irreplaceable,” said veteran actor Suresh Oberoi.

Writer and activist Javed Akhtar said he remembered him as an avid reader "who used to recommend books every time we met.

"#RIPFarooqShaikh The last time we met, we talked politics. I wish we has talked film and acting. Its what we love most. I would have learned," filmmaker Shekhar Kapur tweeted.

"RIP Farooq Sheikh. Immensely talented, extremely courteous. A thorough gentleman," actress-turned-politician Smriti Irani posted on Twitter.

Shaikh passed away in Dubai on Saturday morning.

Sources said the 64-year-old actor died of heart attack.

Shaikh was best known for his roles in Satyajit Ray's Shatranj Ke Khiladi, Sai Paranjpe's Chashme Baddoor and Sagar Sarhadi's Bazaar and Muzaffar Ali’s Umrao Jaan.

He won the 2010 National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for Sanjay Puran Singh Chauhan's Lahore

The actor was last seen in Club 60, released earlier this month.