Om Puri: My friend, Patrick Swayze

Patrick Swayze, who lost the battle to pancreatic cancer on Monday, had a close Indian connection. He starred in the film,City Of Joy, featuring Om Puri and Shabana Azmi. The film was shot in Kolkata.

Om Puri heard about his death only an hour before this reporter spoke to him — when his wife Nandita gave him the news — and he was completely shaken.

The actor looks back at the days of filming City Of Joy, and tellsPatcy N what a wonderful man Swayze was.

The last time I spoke to Patrick was four months ago. I had spoken to him earlier too, when he was detected with cancer. He took it in his stride. No one thought he would die so young. Fifty-seven is not an age to die. I am devasted.

Patrick was a dear friend to me. He had written the foreword to my biography, which will be out next month.

The last thing he told me was that he was very keen on reading my book. He asked me for a copy. But he passed away before it