KARACHI, April 3: Friends, colleagues and relatives of the late Latif Kapadia not only appreciated his professionalism at a function organized by the Arts Council on Wednesday but also prayed that his soul might rest in peace.

Mohammad Ayub, who compered the programme, said that Ali Ahmed’s play, Sheeshay kay adami, had brought Latif Kapadia in the limelight so much so that the then president, Fazal Illahi Chaudhry, had watched all the episodes of the drama with great interest.

Latif Kapadia’s former colleague at the National Bank of Pakistan and friend, Rizwan Wasti, said that he had not been able to register the loss of Latif Kapadia’s death. “I am at a loss to come to terms with the idea that the next time I call Latif at his place he will not be able to answer the phone. We used to talk on the phone every two to three days.”

PTV producer Qasim Jalali — in whose play Latif Kapadia was acting the day he breathed his last — recalled how Latif Kapdia had continued to work despite the fact that he was not ingood health. “We urged him to take it easy for a while but he insisted he would work in the play written by Anwar Maqsood, titled Afsos hasil ka.”

He said Latif Kapadia had had some breathing problem while recording the play. “Moin Akhter took him to Liaquat National Hospital. He was discharged after minor treatment. But he came back to work and declared he would finish off the day’s work.”

Arts Council secretary Saifur Rehman Grami said that over the past two years he had become great friends with Latif Kapadia. He stressed the need for paying tribute to good artistes while they were alive.

Zeenat Yasmin recalled that she had done her first play with Ali Ahmed and Latif Kapadia. The play had been Qissa so tay jaagtey ka. “One quality of Latif Kapadia that I admired a lot was his capability of listening to our problems, our woes patiently.”

Adil Wadia of “Fifty-fifty” fame said: “Latif Kapadia was like a father to me. His wife, my mother; and his children, my brothers and sisters. He always showered a great deal of affection upon me.”

Sajid Hassan said that he had met Latif Kapadia over 18 years ago at Sohail Malik’s place. “Latif was one of those artistes who took a great interest in teaching their juniors. He always guided us and taught us. I never saw him worried. He was such a great professional that he died with his boots on.”

Latif Kapadia’s son, Ahmed Hussain Kapadia, said his first memory of his father was that he was very small and waiting for his father to come home. “My last memory of my father is that I am waiting for my father at the dinner table on the night of March 29. My father was a thorough professional.”

Latif Kapadia’s younger brother, G.M. Kapadia, said that their father had admired one particular quality in Latif Kapadia. ”My father liked that Latif Kapadia never spoke against anyone.”

He recalled that one month back Latif Kapadia had accompanied him to the graveyard to pay a visit to their father’s grave at his death anniversary. “At the graveyard, he said, in his characteristic style, if there was any place for him or not.”

Zaheer Khan said that once Latif Kapadia had refused to work alongside Kamal Ahmed Rizvi because he had not been happy with Mr Rizvi. “When I pointed out to him that I was asking Latif Kapadia, the artiste, to work alongside Kamal Ahmed Rizvi, another artiste, he readily agreed. Afterwards he patched up with Kamal Ahmed Rizvi.”

Anwar Maqsood underlined the need for organizing functions for great artistes in their lifetime.