Yesterday one of my co-actors died.

He is perhaps the first one amongst my friends and colleagues who has departed and while I know it for some time and am OK with it, yet the reality that our times are getting more and more shorter in this life form does one wonder at what we will leave behind and whether the journey was worth it.

I have lived many lives in this life and yet mot got over long back and in the past few years I have been an actor, an activist while serving and getting tons of love in return from the animal and bird kingdom.

As actors and especially BG, many of us face tremendous hardships both financially and personally including what hurts most, lack of respect at work, in society and sometimes even at home for our work.

One has to get used to live with almost regular rejections and depressions and success is rare and mostly short lived.

I have seen the difficulties my friend faced, how he was thrown out by his own family and was almost homeless at times, went to Hamilton for some time when he could not afford living here in Toronto.

There are thousands and thousands of almost homeless or extremely poor actors in various cities of the world- Toronto, New York (which I have seen personally), Bombay, L.A. and even for a small gig, hundreds line up. Mostly life is full of endless struggles to make both ends meet and respect is difficult to earn, both on and off sets.

My friend, this co-actor, who mostly worked BG would still be smiling and comforting and arrive at a 5 am call time, even if he had to stay awake the whole night. And be thankful that he got a gig and free food on sets, as most of us are.

When I saw his body in the casket today, it was as if he was alive but finally sleeping after a long drawn battle called life.

Perhaps he finally deserves this rest and freedom from all pain.

Perhaps as BGs and small actors who feel lucky in getting a one liner, we are nobody but shadows that we portray.

Yet a scene is not complete without us. Or if complete, not real.

Our presence and of many ordinary souls like us is to add value to the work of a few, in reel and real life.

And as I write, my son Simba who has bestowed his presence as a cat in my life, looks up to me while sitting next to me and says-

“It is OK Dad to be just living and being there for each other.”

I guess we may feel or BE “less’ at times but even if we can bring a little love and comfort to each other, it may work.

With that I bid goodbye to my friend while I continue with my last work in this life form- to stand for truth at all times and to BE THERE for our children of the lesser God and enjoy the warmth of their non-judgmental love at all times.

Sometimes just being there is enough.

And all that we can and MUST DO.

Even if it is in the shadows.