India, June 10 -- Tamil filmmaker Bharathiraja died in Chennai on June 10 at the age of 84 after a prolonged illness. Stars of his debut film, 16 Vayathile (1977), Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, visited his residence in Neelankarai to pay their last respects. Speaking to the media afterwards, both actors spoke of their long association, with Rajinikanth candidly remarking about how the director never thought he was a good actor.

Rajinikanth might be a superstar today, but Bharathiraja did not think he was good at acting. "He was my friend for nearly 50 years," said Rajinikanth, getting emotional and recalling how Bharathiraja would always speak his mind. "He was like a child at heart. Whatever he felt, he would say it directly. He used to...