The body of the deceased and much-missed actor Farooque Sheikh would be flown in from Dubai today afternoon.

This, after much agony and trauma for Farooque's family.

Says a family friend, `Farooque's wife Roopa and his two daughters Shaista and Sanaa were suddenly confronted with a crisis for which they were ill-prepared. For Farooque Saab's body to be flown back from Dubai to Mumbai a whole lot of paperwork and diplomatic procedure had to be followed.Luckily for Roopa and the daughters Farooque Saab's nephew is in Dubai. But the poor kid was as clueless about international diplomacy as Roopa and the daughters.They all ran around from pillar to post trying to understand how an Indian man who flies into Dubai alive is to go back dead. `

Apparently Farooque's dear friend Shabana Azmi intervened on the family's behalf.


Says the family friend, `Shabanaji spoke to the Indian consulate in Dubai and to the external ministry in Delhi . The paperwork has now been cleared. Farooque Saab's body would be flown back from Dubai to Mumbai on Monday afternoon.`

The funeral will take place on Monday evening, 30 December between 5.30 pm and 7 pm. Highland Park Building, Next to Pizza Hut, Lokhandwala Complex, Andheri.