By Subhash K. Jha
Mumbai, Dec 28 (IANS): Actress Shabana Azmi, Farooque Sheikh's co-star for 21 years in the popular play "Tumari Amrita" who had also worked with the actor in several films, is devastated with the news of his sudden death.

One of Indian cinema's finest actors, Farooque was on a holiday with his wife and two daughters in Dubai when he suddenly died of a massive heart attack.

Devastated by the suddenness of the tragedy, Shabana said: "I can't believe he's gone so suddenly and so cruelly! Farooque was in Dubai with his wife and daughters when he suddenly suffered a massive heart attack. He just collapsed! Just like that. Is that any way to go?"

Shabana did some of her best films with Farooque. These include Sagar Sarhadi's "Lorie", Kalpana Lajmi's "Ek Pal" and Muzaffar Ali's "Anjuman". Not to mention the play "Tumhari Amrita", directed by Feroz Abbas Khan.

"We were close friends from before we worked together. We were in college together. I can't believe he's gone," she said.

Farooque began his illustrious film career with M.S. Sathyu's "Garam Hawa". He went on to do some of the most iconic Hindi films including Sai Paranjpye's "Chashme Buddoor" and Sagar Sarhadi's "Bazaar". He was last seen last month in Sanjay Tripathy's "Club 60".