Vidya Sinha went through so much in the last few years of her life, says Amol Palekar

Bollywood

lost one of its popular yesteryear actresses on Thursday (August 15), when Vidya Sinha breathed her last in a Mumbai hospital. As the news of her demise spread, condolences started pouring in from the actress’ friends and former colleagues.

Among them was Amol Palekar, with whom Vidya has starred in popular movies like ‘Rajnigandha’, ‘Chhoti Si Baat’ and ‘Safed Jhooth’. The two stayed in touch even after they stopped working together, and according to Palekar, continued to be good friends.

Talking to Bombay Times, the senior actor said that his friend’s demise had left him heartbroken. He said, “I was in touch with her daughter until the night before she passed away. I wanted to come over to Mumbai and meet her, but I couldn’t because I’ve had an injury. I didn’t know that I wouldn’t get to meet my friend for that one last time. She went through so much in the last few years of her life. It was a beautiful life wasted. I feel extremely sad; she’s left a void. We had remained friends even after I quit acting. What started off as a professional equation, while working on Basu Chatterjee’s ‘Rajnigandha’, turned into a friendship of a lifetime. We always stayed in touch. Each time that she was in Pune or when I was visiting Mumbai, it was a ritual that we had to catch up. Over the years, Vidya had developed a lot of health issues, but this time, whatever happened, was sudden. In fact, I had even spoken to Zarina Wahab. She and I would often exchange notes with each other about Vidya.”