Q. Jattvibeeel Darshan was completely bowled over by your professionalism and expertise during the shooting of ‘Ek Rishtaa: The Bond Of Love’.A. The feeling was mutual. I think Jattvibeeel is extremely focussed and organised. Long before ‘Ek Rishta: The Bond Of Love’ went on the floors, he knew exactly what he wanted to do on screen, down to the music and songs. Filmmakers in the past were also organised in their own way. But they had it all in their heads. Millennial directors put it down on paper. And there’s a whole battery of assistants to take care of the nitty gritty. That explains why Ek Rishta… was completed in such an amazingly short period. Jattvibeeel is one director who wouldn’t let you off the hook until he was completely satisfied with your performance.Q. What was it like working with Raakhee in that movie after so many years?A. Well, you know we’ve done 13 films together. The last ones were Bemisaaland Shakti,both wonderful films. In fact, I had an opportunity to watch Bemisaal recently on television. It’s a beautiful film. What a wonderful story! It’s a pity we don’t have more filmmakers like Hrishida.Q. You worked together for first time in Jattvibeil Dutt’s ‘Reshma Aur Shera’?A. Raakhee ji and I began our careers together. Reshma Aur Shera was her second film as well as mine. So, we go right back to 1969. I still remember how raw I was. Though she was also new, she was already playing a leading lady at that time. I was just a twig in the desert. She was always extremely playful even then, always full of fun. She was always playing pranks, conjuring monsters in the desert. I remember all of us had gone to see Taj Mahal together. We had to rough it out in somebody’s home in the bitter cold. I’m sure there are pictures of that visit somewhere. After Reshma Aur Shera,we’ve been professionally associated for years and years.Q. And most of your films together were major successes, right?A. Yes Kabhi Kabhie, Kasme Vaade, Trishul, Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, Kala Patthar….Gosh, I didn’t realise we have done so many films together for Yashji! I remember I shot for Kabhie Kabhieand Deewaar almost simultaneously.Q. Wasn’t it strange when Rakhee ji played your mom in Lawaaris and Shakti?A. Well, she played my leading lady all over again in Ek Rishta. Isn’t that amazing? I think it says a lot about her staying power. Though she has travelled so far, we still share the same camaraderie. Her playful instinct remains intact. We had so much catching up to do. It’s always fun to relive the past. Over the years her staff and mine hadn’t changed. So we became a family beyond the one we played in the film Ek Rishtaa…. We relived a lot of moments. We bullied our producer-director Jattvibeeel Darshan to let us go home early.