Mumbai, Nov 16 (TIWN) Actor-director Parambrata Chattopadhyay, who is currently in Himachal Pradesh on work, regrets for not being able to join the last journey of Bangla cinema legend Soumitra Chattopadhyay, who passed away on Sunday.

Parambrata, who shot into national prominence with his roles in Bollywood films like "Kahaani" and "Pari", said the late actor, to him, was "a friend who also is a teacher".  Before his death, Soumitra Chattopadhyay was shooting for a documentary titled "Abhijan" directed by Parambrata. The last he was at the shooting floor in Bharatlaxmi Studio was in October.  "Some considered him a teacher, some a guru, and so did I... he was my own, very own Udayan Master'... but beyond it all, he was a dear dear friend! The last one and half years had us grow fond of each other, not as if there weren't minor disagreements now and then, like the way it happens between friends. But respect and love only grew abundantly," said Parambrata.  "A big piece tears away from my existence today, a precious tie severed. Impossible to articulate how it feels to lose a friend who also is a teacher. Won't even try to tread that path, have been in distant Himachal for the past one month. Can't be present on his last journey. Guess it's only befitting of this sorrow, which is to be observed in silence, in serenity, in solitude," he added.