When Sanjeev Kumar is famous for being one of the best actors in Hindi cinema, fans continue to feel a sense of emptiness when he passed away recently. He died in November 1985 at the age of 47. Sachin Pilgaonkar he once shared a heartbreaking story about what was supposed to be his last meeting with his best friend Sanjeev Kumar, a meeting that never happened because the legendary actor died before he could see him.Despite the age gap between them, Sachin and Sanjeev Kumar shared a close friendship based on mutual trust and respect. In an earlier interview with Bollywood Aaj Aur Kal, Sachin recalled that Sanjeev had asked him to visit him one morning, but his actions delayed his arrival. When he reached the actor’s house that afternoon, Sanjeev Kumar had already retired.Recalling their last conversation, Sachin said he met Sanjeev Kumar yesterday when the actor was filming.“I went to meet him at his house. To tell you the truth, I met him the day before yesterday when he was writing. I told him that I wanted to see him the next day. He said, ‘Come in the morning.’ I told him I would come around 2 or 2:30 pm instead. He asked, ‘Can’t you come soon? I said I have work to finish first and I will come later. He said, ‘Okay.’When Sachin arrived around 2:30 pm the next day, the family told him that Sanjeev Kumar was in his room.“I asked where he was, and he told me that he was in his room, taking a bath. I waited for about half an hour. Then I asked him if he was not well. They said yes, he was not, and his secretary went to fetch a doctor. After a while, Jamnadas ji arrived with Dr Gandhi. I asked what happened. They said that he came home late at 4 or 3 in the morning.Sachin recalled that he was disappointed that Sanjeev continued to work despite his illness.“I said, ‘He’s not well, yet he’s working late into the night? What’s this?’ I told them that if I meet him, I will scold him. He was my friend, philosopher and guide. We got along so well that there was nothing we couldn’t talk about.” After some time, Sachin realized that something was very wrong. What bothers him the most is that no one seems to want to enter Sanjeev Kumar’s room.“I started to feel that something was wrong. No one wanted to go inside. I thought I would go alone. I thought the worst that could happen was that they might be changing. I would apologize and close the door.” Then he opened the door of the bedroom, he met with terrible things. At first I couldn’t see anyone. Then I saw two feet on the mat. I went forward and saw him lying on the ground with one hand stretched out to the door. I screamed and called the doctor immediately.Although the doctor tried to revive the actor, it was already too late. The doctor came in and turned her around and tried to pump her chest. Then he told us that he died a long time ago. The ground fell under my feet.”Sanjeev Kumar died on November 6, 1985, after suffering from a massive heart attack. He was only 47 years old. In the years that followed, several of his co-workers reflected on the lifestyle choices that may have led to his illness. Veteran actor Parikshit Sahni once said that Sanjeev’s hard working days, alcoholism and late night eating took a toll on him.“He had bad habits. After the shooting, he drank a lot. He also ate a lot… That’s why he died. He had a heart problem,” Sahni said in an interview. Achin Pilgaonkar also reported on Sanjeev Kumar renting a one-bedroom in Pali Hill in Mumbai to enjoy non-vegetarian food, which was not allowed in their home.According to Sachin, the house became a regular meeting place for close friends including Shammi Kapoor, Shatrughan Sinha and Randhir Kapoor, where they would spend hours drinking before having dinner of paya and nihari.“So they order paya, nihari. Sanjeev Kumar, Shammi Kapoor, Shatrughan Sinha, Randhir Kapoor and I, we all ate together there. The paya had to be reheated 4-5 times because we kept drinking till 5 o’clock and then we ate paya. We used to eat with the bakers and have fun,” he recalled in an interview with Kunal Vijayakar.Another story that surfaced after Sanjeev Kumar’s death came from late actor Tabassum, who had spoken about the actor’s interest in portraying the elderly. She revealed that Sanjeev had confided in her about the palm reader’s prediction that she wouldn’t last long.“He told me, ‘A palm reader once said that I will not live long or see old age. That’s why I play old roles in movies – to get a part of the same life on the screen that I can’t live in real life”. Despite being in his 30s and 40s, Sanjeev Kumar portrayed veteran characters in films like ‘Sholay’, ‘Mausam’, ‘Sawaal’ and ‘Trishul’—roles that remain among the most popular performances of his career.