Why Amitabh is in mourning

Amitabh Bachchan's manager-cum-secretary Sheetal Jain passed away on Saturday morning. He was 77.

Jain produced the Amitabh Bachchan and Govinda starrer, Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, that released in 1998.

His last rites were performed at the Pawan Hans crematorium in Mumbai on Saturday evening.

The funeral was attended by Amitabh Bachchan, his son, Abhishek, and daughter-in-law, Aishwarya.

Amitabh Bachchan paid tribute to Jain in his blog.

'He carried the burden of my work for almost 40 years .. gentle, diligent, humble and the picture of sincerity and honesty .. today I carried him to his last journey ..

'Sheetal Jain my Manager, Secretary through thick and thin , passed away this morning after a short but severe battle in Hospital .. and flashes of his association through these 40 years , as a member of the family swept by ..' wrote Amitabh Bachchan.

'His dedication and devotion to his work .. his gentle manner, won him many admirers and those that came in contact with him through all those years ..'

Amitabh added, 'He was emotional to the core and would never tolerate any untoward issue concerning the family .. never did he ever give impression to the world outside of his standing as he worked for me .. he planned and sorted my schedules, films and important meetings with Producers .. it was him that we asked to represent us when it was not possible for the family to attend an occasion ..'

He concluded, 'A simple man .. and his gratitude for any favour that we did for him was supreme ..

'They do not make people like him any more .. there is a vacuum now in my working office and in our functioning ..'

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.

Abhishek Bachchan with Aishwraya.

Bunty Walia joins them.

Rohan Sippy.

Photographs: Pradeep Bandekar