Raza Murad, actor, said: "This film industry was a world of heroes before Mehmood. He proved the phrase wrong. He was a comedian who was not a hero. But people would watch films only because of Mehmood. This had never happened before in the history of the Indian film industry.

"He will be remembered like Amitabh Bachchan and Dilip Kumar. Mehmood is not born once in a century, but once in 1,000 years."

Tinnu Anand, actor, director: "My father Inder Raj Anand worked with him. I would accompany my father as a boy. I loved meeting Mehmood. He had a great sense of humour and was a great man.

"When I started watching the films, he was the hero. The real heroes were like side heroes. He was very innovative in his acting.

"It is a great loss for me. I was friendly with his entire family."

In the picture: Lucky Ali with stepmother Tracy Ali