For a scene in Afsar, Chetan Anand (the director) wanted me to kiss Suraiya on her eyelids. Her nani was adamant about not allowing any such scene. So she had to be steered away on the pretext of some conversation while we canned the shot.

On hindsight, the kiss (on the eyelids) seems such an innocent gesture today. But film censorship in those days was headed by Rai Bahadur Chunilal, and he was very strict.

Is it true that Suraiya threw your engagement ring into the sea outside her Marine Drive residence?

I don't know! I have never met her after we broke off. But the old story about her slamming the door on me when I went to meet her at her residence is untrue. Nobody has shut a door on me.

You have worked with a range of actresses from Madhubala to Meenakshi Seshadri. Who did you enjoy working with?

I enjoyed working with all of them. Nutan and Zeenat Aman were so articulate -- I could hold an intelligent conversation with them on issues besides films. Madhubala could not stop laughing in between shots. Even today, whenever I meet my heroines, I find it a pleasant experience.