Hangal saab made 'Madhubala' special for us: Saurabh Tewari

Saurabh Tewari, producer of Madhubala, the TV serial on Colors, where AK Hangal recently made his last appearance as an actor, writes about his experiences with the 90-plus veteran actor:
Almost three months back on 25th May, I met Hangal saab for the first time at his house. We had an important sequence in our a show where a legendary personality from film industry was supposed to name the protagonist of the show.
A day back my production head suggested that we approach Hangal saab for that role. So finally i reached his house but all the expectations came crashing down when i saw a weak and frail Hangal saab resting on bed. Seeing his condition, I immediately dropped the idea, felt it will be inhuman to take him to the set. Last image of Hangal saab which was there in my mind was that of film Lagaan but that was 10 years back. As i was about to leave, he slowly raised his hand and called me close, with glitter in his eyes, murmured to his son, "Issey kaho role toh samjhaaye." That moment was the defining one. If at age of 98 this man had such killer spirit that he still wants to face the camera, then who are we to stop him.
Call time was 7pm and exact 7:15 Hangalsaab reported on the set.. looking as handsome as he was in Basuda's Shaukeen. Keeping his age in mind, my director Ravindra Gautam and I decided that we will not give him many lines. But the actor in him caught us. After carefully listening to the scene he asked us where is the mic and then said let's do the rehearsal first. And then started one of the most divine experience of our life.... Hangal saab with help of the make up guy did the touch up and was ready for shoot. Pindrop silence, almost everyone on the set had tears in their eyes as most of us had a dark fear somewhere at the back of our minds.... that what we are going to see now will probably be the last performance of the grand old man of Indian cinema.
The shot got over and I escorted Hangal saab to the car and while sitting in the car he murmured in my ears - "Kuch kami reh gayee ho toh maaf kar dena". I just touched his feet and couldn't say any thing... That was the humility of a veteran who acted in more than 200 films.
He left the set but we remained numb for hours. Next day his son Vijay Ji called me and said - "You know Hangal saab was smiling throughout on our way back and on reaching home he said, 'People still want me to act... I still get offers.'
Today standing at Pawan Hans crematorium, no one had tears in their eyes because how can you mourn the death of a person who lived every moment of his life.... Cremation time was 1 pm and Hangal saab who was always punctual, reported on time and his cremation started at exactly at 1 pm without waiting for any VIPs.
Hangal saab, you made Madhubala special for all of us.... Thank you sir.