AK Hangal with children at a programme during his last visit to Patna in 2006. Telegraph picture

A sannata (silence) descended on Bollywood as A.K. Hangal passed away in a Mumbai hospital on Sunday morning. The void was felt in Patna as well.

An era of India cinema came to an end with the death of Hangal, whose line “Itna sannata kyon hai bhai (why is there such a silence)” following the death of his only child in the 1975-blockbuster Sholay moved audience across the country.

The 98-year-old actor had featured in over 250 films.

The people of Bihar remembered that the stalwart, who was also a freedom fighter, had visited Bihar thrice and mesmerised people with his inspirational speeches. He was not one of those flamboyant actors, who caught the audience’s attention with his oratory skills. He was a man of depth, grit and honesty.

Being a theatre artiste, he was involved with Indian People’s Theatre Association (IPTA) and attended several functions in Bihar organised by the association. The late actor’s first visit to Bihar was in 1986.

Bihar IPTA general secretary Tanwir Akhtar told The Telegraph: “His death is a great loss for IPTA. He not only played a significant role but also gave immense support to sharpen the cultural flow of the association. In September 1986, he addressed thousands at Gandhi Maidan when cultural activists had organised a convention on the issue of fighting against communalism and separatism.”

He said: “Hangal’s words always motivated us.”

In fact, it was the actor’s relations with IPTA that connected him to Bihar.

IPTA secretary Firoz Asraf Khan recollected Hangal’s memories. “The way he spoke in that convention was marvellous. People still remember his speech. He visited Patna for the second time in 1994, when IPTA organised the golden jubilee celebration at Bharatiya Nritya Kala Mandir. He visited many villages in Begusarai district to urge people to take part in the celebration,” he said.

He remembered how Hangal collected money and invited artiste Kaifi Azmi to the function. “He will always remain in our hearts as an actor and a freedom fighter,” he said.

His last visit was during the Bhagat Singh centenary celebrations, organised by around 40 cultural organisations in Bihar, again at Bharatiya Nritya Kala Mandir in September 2006.

Chief minister Nitish Kumar also expressed his grief at the death of the actor. “He had an amazing talent of creativity. His death has caused an irreparable loss to the film industry,” he said.

IPTA would pay its tributes to the late actor on August 28.

IPTA secretary Khan’s statement sums up the feeling of loss. “More than a freedom fighter and an actor, Hangal sahab was a great human being.”