/> Deepti Naval breaks down when told of filmmaker Jagmohan Mundhra's death. She had no idea her friend was unwell.

"I've been shooting non-stop for 45 days in Delhi. I had left my phone behind in Mumbai. So I had no clue he was unwell. The last I spoke to him he was very keen to see my directorial debut Do Paise Ki Dhoop Chaar Aane Ki Baarish.

I was supposed to return to Mumbai and show it to him.. Now he's gone! Jag was a very dear friend. I'll never forget how much he encouraged me. When I did Kamla with him in 1985 I was only playing sweet girls nextdoor. Initially I was opposed to doing Kamla.

It looked like a bloody demeaning role of a doormat and I told him so. I remember sitting with him on my sofa in my apartment facing the sea as he tried to convince me.

"I need those eyes for Kamla, " he urged me. I finally agreed. And am I glad! Kamla changed the course of my career and my attitude to characters. I realized it is not important to always play the politically correct character. Someone has to play the weak characters to show how much she needs to be empowered.

It was because of Kamla that I later did powerful roles like Main Zinda Hoon and Ankahee. I later did a small part as an activist in Jag's Bawandar. He wanted to know why I wanted to do a cameo. But I just wanted to be part of the film...He went through a phase when he did all those softporn films in the US.

But I don't think that was really what he wanted to do. I haven't seen any of his films from that phase. I'd rather remember Jag by Kamla, Bawandar and Provoked. I'd like to remember the wonderful discussions we had on cinema and all the encouragement he gave me. When I was in the US he was also there.

We were connected from different parts of the world. I'll miss him. "