Hrishkesh Mukherjee was godfather to us: Big B

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who has done films like "Abhimaan" and "Anand" with Hrishikesh Mukherjee, says the late iconic director was like a godfather to him and others.

Remembering Mukherjee on his death anniversary on Thursday, Big B posted on his blog: "There are two important anniversaries today. Death anniversaries of Mukesh the singer and Hrishkesh Mukherjee, my director in at least nine films."

"Hrishi Da was godfather to us. His kind of cinema has disappeared and we miss that much, but there are a few who endeavour to bring back those stories of old and present them to us. If I remember correctly, Hrishi da was the one director with whom I have worked the maximum number of films - nine in number. Perhaps Ram Gopal Verma may beat that record, but that is a maybe," he added.

Hailing him as "a master story teller, a master editor and one that worked within minimum cost and time... but the characters he gave us were special. Be it 'Anand', 'Mili', 'Bemisal', 'Jurmana', 'Chupke Chupke', 'Namak Haram', all had great moments for performance and depth".

Amitabh also shared that despite being "chronically ill with arthritis and a constant pain in his legs, he would crutch his way on to the sets, or hobble along, never ever giving cause for delay or give too much attention to his condition".

The "Piku" star also posted about the director's passion for chess.

"He had a few unit members that were his constant on the set players. They played chess and he directed us in between moves on the board. Never missing out on any little detail for the film.

"Loved pets, dogs, many of them, some of great pedigree, and some he would just pick up from the street. Played the sitar, had pet names for all his favourite actors and never ever allowed us to give another take if we desired so. 'Pay for that extra film you will use', he would demand, if we insisted."

Amitabh also got nostalgic over "Kabhi kabhie mere dil mein" hitmaker Mukesh on his death anniversary on Thursday.

"Mukesh ji with his sonorous voice was a favourite of mine and there are occasions when we remember his old numbers from the earlier films, apart from being and having been recognised as Raj Kapoor ji's voice for playback.

"Those numbers shall ever remain in our hearts and minds. The words, the tunes and the singing, all so lyrical and soulful. We do not get to hear many such in today's times...strange. For even today, we remember the incidental music pieces that decorated each song within the verses, and do not remember one such music interlude from today's works," he added.