Actor-Writer-Director Neeraj Vora passes away

14 Dec 2017

Neeraj Vora, the man who made us laugh on screen and off it too, is no more. Vora, who came into his own as the writer of Ram Gopal Varmas Rangeela & Daud and also made a big impact playing comic roles in films like Akele Hum Akele Tum Daud Satya and Welcome Back , besides directing Phir Hera Pheri , passed away early morning on Thursday, December 14. ProducerFiroz Nadiadwala,who had been looking after the ailingVorafor more than a year, informed this writer of Voras demise, He passed away at4 amon Thursday. Ive lost the battle to save my brother and friend from death. His health had improved so much. But it deteriorated suddenly on Friday. He had to be out into hospital. But it was no use. We lost him. For the past one year,Firoz had been looking after all the medical expenses of comatose filmmakerNeerajVorawho fell ill and was given up for almost-dead by the doctors untilFirozstepped in. Since that fateful day,NeerajVoraoccupied a special room in Firozs bungalow where the ailing writer-director was attended by a fleet of medical experts, nurses, dieticiansand well-wishers. Reluctant to talk about his astonishingly noble deed,Firozsays, It was one year on19 Octobersince I gotNeerajto my home inMumbaifromAIIMSin Delhi where the doctors had declared he would be dead in a few hours. Quite frankly, I dont know what powers made me do what I did. I couldnt leave him to die. He had nobody to look after him.Neerajdid have a brother. But he was financially incapable of shouldering the responsibility. I had knownNeerajfor 12 years. Weve worked together in several films and weve shared a close bonding. How could I leave him there to die? How would Ive lived with myself if I had been so callous? Firozstill recalls that fateful day when he decided to step in and save his friends life. As I said the doctors at AIMS had given up on him. I dont know what got into me. I immediately hired an air ambulance to bringNeerajfrom Delhi toMumbai. I have to confess my heart was in my mouth. IfNeerajhad passed away during that journey from Delhi toMumbai, or even after landing Id have been in serious legal and moral trouble. Luckily God was on my side. He willed thatNeerajlive and I be the tool to save his life. I sincerely believe we are all instruments of God brought to earth to do HIS will. Neerajwas slowly recovering under Firozs care. I had set aside a room in my house for him. That was his home for the past year. The room has pictures of his parents. His father, a classical musician, used to play an instrument called theVeena. We had that music playing in his room. We had theHanumanChalisarecited for himAll that was familiar toNeerajwas there for him. Plus there were four attendantstwo each for the day and night shiftsto look after him round the clock, a dietician,neuro-surgeons, a cook who livesclosebyand cooks all the special food thatNeerajhas to be fed through his stomach.Under all this care,Neerajwas slowly recovering. And now, he is gone. Firozfeels all his efforts to save his friend has gone to waste. I lostNeeraj. I was so sure he would recover fully. But God willed otherwise. We are now giving a proper send-off withpoojaand rituals. The cremation is at the Santacruz cremation at4pmtoday.