Exclusive! Kabir Khan: KK and I won dance competitions together at Delhi University

Kabir Khan. Pic/Yogen Shah

Singer KK's demise on Tuesday came as a shock to fans and colleagues, and his college mate and accomplished director Kabir Khan is no different.

Speaking to mid-day.com, Kabir referred to his college mate at Delhi University as his lucky charm. Kabir says, "KK and I go back a long way! Every film of mine has a song by KK, he was my lucky charm. He was an extremely close friend and we would keep planning to meet but years just go by because he was busy and so was I. When someone goes away you realize you should have taken out time!"

The director says it was KK who inspired him to shift to Mumbai. "KK was the first from our batch to move to the city and we would cite his example. He had started singing jingles by then. Then he became an accomplished singer and I was just two films old but his song ‘Hai Junoon' from 'New York' became iconic. I still remember sitting with Pritam and how we recorded that song. It's really heartbreaking to think of it now!"

Recalling their time at Delhi University the director adds, "He was part of the music group Blitzkrieg with Julius Packiam who still does the background score for my films. Not many know that KK and I were part of a dance group and won many competitions together. He would wear his trademark dark glasses even at night and we would tease him about it. I know its cliched to say ‘he was a good person' when someone passes away but in this case it's absolutely true! He was always smiling and such a gentle soul."