By Subhash K Jha

After all the dispute and skirmish with hospital authorities over his father's hospitalization, Aditya Pancholi ultimately lost his father on Saturday.

"His gallbladder had ruptured and gangrene had formed in his stomach. He was 80-plus and the doctors said his constitution wouldn't be able to take the strain of an operation. But there was no choice.

He had to be operated on. He was all right during surgery. But soon complications developed. He couldn't breathe. And he had a massive heart attack. That killed him, " said the bereaved son.

But Aditya admits death was a pain-assuaging possibility for his father. "He was really miserable in his illness. He couldn't talk and he couldn't make his discomfort apparent to us. So there was a complete lack of communication," said Aditya.

Aditya's brother who lives in South Africa flew down soon after hearing of the bearevement.

"My wife Zarina is shooting in Hyderbad. But the rest of the family is together, "Aditya signed off softly.