Actor, writer, poet and one with a ready smile — that's how Samir Sharma's friends knew him. The news of his death by suicide sent shockwaves in the television industry yesterday. Actor Geetanjali Tikekar, who shared screen space with Sharma in Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon?...Ek Baar Phir, says she woke up to the news last morning. "Sam was one of my closest friends in the industry. In fact, he was closer to my husband [Sikandar Kharbanda]."

From recommending web series to one another, to discussing matters of the heart, Tikekar reveals that the two were constantly in touch during the past few months. "He was vocal about mental health, and we would often discuss how we were dealing with the lockdown. If he had a problem, Sam wouldn't be discreet about it. He used to share everything with us. He was one of the kindest souls, and a talented artiste," says Tikekar, adding that he shared a deep bond with her 12-year-old son, Shaurya.