Everyone I know cried watching the new film "My Brother... Nikhil". I cried too, not just for Nikhil's death, but also for the birth of an actor named Sanjay Suri.

What a relief it is to see this monstrously neglected actor, who also happens to be a wonderful human being, finally get his due.

I remember the day Sanjay called to tell me about "Nikhil...". Understandably, he was a trifle hesitant about revealing details.

Let's not forget that our film industry still has some hard and fast rules about heroism. Playing a gay character, and that too HIV-positive, was positively suicidal.

Sanjay took the plunge. He had to. There was no choice.

For an actor from outside the film industry, choices are severely limited, no matter how gifted he is. The grand roles go to the "insiders" and outsiders are left with just the crumbs.

Hence Sanjay's crummy career dotted with supporting roles in female-centric films such as Kalpana Lajmi's "Daman", Meghna Gulzar's "Filhaal" and Chandraprakash Diwedi's "Pinjar".

But to each, Sanjay has brought in quiet conviction and dignity.

And just when I thought he was too straight-laced to be naughty onscreen, he has surprised me with his prankish performance in Raj Kaushal's "Shaadi Ka Laddoo" - a role similar to Saif Ali Khan's "Hum Tum" though much more accomplished.

But how does one explain this to a blind and un-heedful industry that prefers a Saif to Sanjay, and more recently, a Ritish Deshmukh to a Sammir Dattani, just because one is better 'connected' than the other?

Sanjay knows how I feel.

"Thanks. You've always been very supportive," he says as encomiums for "Nikhil..." pour in from all quarters including the hardened critics.

Yes, I support Suri, because I support genuine talent.

When my friend Deepa Mehta was re-casting for her controversial "Water", I immediately saw Sanjay Suri in the role of the protagonist - clad in a dhoti, wearing studious spectacles and spewing Gandhism.

Yes, the role seemed to suit Sanjay far more than original choice Akshay Kumar or the later option Rahul Khanna.

I arranged a meeting for Sanjay with Deepa. She liked him immensely and I thought this would be the turning point of his career.

But Deepa changed her mind. She preferred John Abraham. I think she wanted more sex appeal.

And Sanjay isn't a "sexy" actor - not in the bare-chested, ladies' man way. His appeal is far more understated. He can never do anything unbecoming onscreen and makes an impact only through his silence.

Luckily, Sanjay is hungry, not angry, there's no bitterness about being neglected, no blaming the industry or talking about 'compromises' he was asked to make, the positive person that he is.

But in a world suffused in shrill self-promotion, how does an uncomplaining, taciturn outsider make his presence felt?

His answer came last year, when he took the plunge and decided to make "My Brother...Nikhil" - a wise and timely decision.

I still remember my meeting with Sanjay at Raveena Tandon's parents' silver-jubilee marriage anniversary.

We were all sitting on the rooftop of her high-rise building. And Sanjay, who was just recently married, was going around receiving congratulations.

After our hostess introduced us, he spent the rest of the evening with me. We immediately hit off. That neither of us drank helped.

Drinks were on full flow, and I was getting uncomfortable.

A sloshed dress designer insisted on addressing me 'Sanjay'. Sanjay sensed my discomfort and whispered, "Maybe she thinks she's talking to me".

"How do I get out of here?" I inquired. "Very simple," he smiled, and escorted me to the elevator and said 'bye'.

Today, when I see the smile on Nikhil's face I understand how Sanjay Suri never became bitter. He always finds an escape route. He just has.