A K Hangal saab was not only a good friend of my father Kaifi Azmi, but also a close family friend. Actually, he was often a leading man of my mother Shaukat in many plays during their Indian People’s Theatre Association (IPTA) days. My father used to be the president and Hangal saab was the vice president of IPTA.

Fighting fit: Hangal, a former freedom fighter, did not let his advancing age stop him from protesting against the Gujarat carnage. Here, with fellow crusader Shabana Azmi. Pic/Suresh KK