Nawazuddin posted this pic of his teacher. (courtesy: Nawazuddin_S)

New Delhi:

Nawazuddin Siddiqui, on Tuesday afternoon, paid tribute to his late teacher and veteran thespian Hemendra Bhatia, who died on Tuesday morning. Nawazuddin Siddiqui posted a throwback picture of his teacher and he wrote in a tweet: “My teacher Shri Hemendra Bhatia who taught me the techniques of acting and also gave me my early opportunities under his direction passed away today morning. It’s an irreparable loss to the theatre world. May his soul rest in peace.” In an interview with Bombay Times, the actor said, “His work and teachings have had a huge impact on my life and career. I had known him even before I joined NSD. He was an acting teacher at Actor Prepares (Anupam Kher’s) school too. His passing away is a huge loss for the theatre world.”

Read Nawazuddin’s tribute here:

My teacher Shri Hemendra Bhatia who taught me the techniques of acting and also gave me my early opportunities under his direction passed away today morning.
It’s an irreparable loss to the theatre world.
May his soul rest in peace pic.twitter.com/43sbS90CXI

— Nawazuddin Siddiqui (@Nawazuddin_S) August 30, 2022

Meanwhile, Anupam Kher, in his extensive eulogy for Hemendra Bhatia wrote: “Bhatia Saab the great: I met Hemendra Bhatia in September 1979 at Bhartendu Natya Academy in Lucknow. It was my first job as a teacher. We both were part of the faculty under Raj Bisaria Ji. Even though I was 24 he decided to call me Kher Saab. We have been friends since then. Later when I established Actor Prepares. I asked him to help me design the school. He became the first and the only dean of our acting school. We did plays together. And remained friends. He was my confidant! He was brilliant, little shy, very giving, warm, passionate, short tempered, large hearted, amazing at his craft, wonderful storyteller, emotional, an eternal optimist and many more things. He went to a better world. But too soon. I will miss you Bhatia Saab and our conversations over a cup of coffee. Om Shanti.”

This is what Anupam Kher posted:

The song is ended…
But the melody lingers on… #BhatiaSaab@actorpreparespic.twitter.com/leB2Z2YH2z

— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPKher) August 30, 2022

Hemendra Bhatia, an FTII alumna, featured in films like I Did Not Kill Gandhi, Satta and the TV show Bharat Ek Khoj, to name a few.