Firoz Nadiadwala on Neeraj Vora's death: I've lost the battle to save my brother and friend

Bollywood actor-director Neeraj Vora, who made everyone laugh on-screen with his amazing films, passed away on Thursday morning. At the age of 54, the actor succumbed to death after a year-long battle with illness.Producer Firoz Nadiadwala who had known him for over 12 years had been by his side in the tough times as well. On Thursday, Firoz mourned the demise of his friend, and said, "He passed away at 4 am on Thursday. I`ve lost the battle to save my brother and friend from the clutches of death. His health had improved so much. But it deteriorated suddenly on Friday."

He added, "He had to be shifted to hospital. But it was no use. We lost him." He further added, "It was one year on October 19 since I got Neeraj to my home in Mumbai from Delhi where the doctors had declared he would be dead in a few hours. Quite frankly, I don`t know what powers made me do what I did. I couldn't leave him to die. He had nobody to look after him. Neeraj did have a brother. But he was financially incapable of shouldering the responsibility."

He further recalled the day when he fought with fate for his friend. "As I said, the doctors in Delhi had given up on him. I don`t know what got into me. I immediately hired an air ambulance to bring Neeraj from Delhi to Mumbai. I have to confess my heart was in my mouth. If Neeraj had passed away during that journey from Delhi to Mumbai, or even after landing, I would have been in serious legal and moral trouble. Luckily, God was on my side. He willed that Neeraj live and I be the tool to save his life. I sincerely believe we are all instruments of God brought on earth to do His will," he said.

"I had set aside a room in my house for him. That was his home for the past one year. The room has pictures of his parents. His father, a classical musician, used to play Veena. We had that music playing in his room. We had Hanuman Chalisa recited for him... All that was familiar to Neeraj was there for him. Plus, there were four attendants -- two each for the day and night shifts -- to look after him round the clock, a dietician, neuro-surgeons, a cook who lives closeby and cooks all the special food that Neeraj has to be fed through his stomach. Under all this care, Neeraj was slowly recovering. And now, he is gone," Firoz concluded.

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