Had fate not intervened, Ramu would have been 56 today. The veteran filmmaker succumbed to COVID complications on April 26, leaving behind wife Malashree and kids Aryan and Ananya. “This will be the first time in 24 years that Ramu won’t be with us on his birthday. In fact, I still can’t believe that he’s not amongst us. ” says the actor. ''The tests revealed he was positive and a CT scan showed signs of an infection. It was manageable though, so a home quarantine was agreed upon after consulting doctors,” she recalls.

When the situation didn’t improve even after three days and his cough increased, Ramu was admitted to the hospital. “Despite being breathless, he went into the hospital walking. A CT scan showed an increase in infection. Ramu was petrified, he was terrified of even a blood test and had to be mollycoddled like a baby to get it done. He’d always eat chocolates to get over the stress of going to hospitals,” says Malashree. She adds, “I guess us being celebs helped because doctors allowed me to video call and talk to him constantly .”

By midnight, the infection had increased and his breathing had become constricted. “He called and said, ‘Ammu, I’m really scared. Please take me home.’  Malashree recalls. However, by morning the doctors told her the situation was getting out of hand and the infection was now at 23/25. “That was the last... he was gone. I think it was fear that really did him in,” she says through muffled sobs.

“I was like his third child because that’s how much he’d pamper me. No matter what his tensions were, he’d never show them to me. Ramu has given me the best gift - my children. He will forever be my Kutta and I will always be his Ammu,” she sums up.

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