'I marveled at Rajesh Vivek's sheer energy and madness'

'Rajesh Vivek always revealed much more of the character than what was written in the script.'

Actor Rajesh Vivek succumbed to a heart attack in Hyderabad on January 14. He was 66.

Director Ashutosh Gowariker, who worked with him in films like Lagaan, Swades, Jodhaa Akbar, What's your Raashee and Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey, pays a fitting tribute.

I am very sad and shocked to hear about the untimely passing away of Rajesh Vivekji.

He was a powerful actor, who used his physicality, voice and face with extreme intensity to portray an emotion. That was his hallmark.

I often told him that he had many more characters inside him, waiting to be extracted. He would laugh but I always meant it.

He had made an impression on me in Junoon and Joshilay. That's why when I was writing Lagaan many years later, he was on my mind for the Guran character.

He had played serious roles but I wanted him to play a character that was behaving seriously but looking funny.

He loved the character and played it very well!

Rajeshji went on to do four more films with me -- he played Nivaaran in Swades, Chugtai Khan in Jodhaa Akbar, detective Bhautesh Joshi in What's Your Raashee? and blacksmith Siraj in Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey.

Throughout these films, I marveled at his sheer energy, the madness mixed with his artistry, his creative inputs and his spirit to perform. He always revealed much more of the character than what was written in the script. That's a rare talent.