Irrfan KhanAs one of India’s finest actors, he passed away in 2020 at the age of 53. He breathed his last at Mumbai’s Kokilab Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, where he was admitted with a colon infection while battling a neuroendocrine tumor since 2018. He left behind an incredible body of work, including the romantic comedy ‘Qarib Qarib Singlle’. the actor Parvathywho starred alongside him in the film, later reflected on his experience working with him.
Parvathy recalls working with Irrfan Khan
At a meet organized by Pinkvilla, a fan in the audience asked Parvathy what it was like working with Irrfan. In response to the question, she shared her thoughts, saying, “I don’t think we talk about death enough. I don’t think as a society we’re doing a great job talking about grief. We’ve lost a person who lived their life and you shared those moments with them, so stop feeling that grief. When I am asked about Irrfan or Puneet [Rajkumar] Although, they are two co-stars we lost and I can’t believe it. It doesn’t make sense not to be here… I still don’t have the words to express myself.’He added, “Irrfan used to say, ‘Abhi toh sirf shuruat hain (It’s just the beginning).’ While shooting for Qarib Qarib Singlle, he was very excited about this new chapter in his life. We don’t realize how luck we have to breathe because it doesn’t make sense that I’m alive and he’s not. I don’t understand the logic of that. He lived every day with such childlike curiosity. He was that person, he was such a ball. If I were to think of him, and I try to avoid that, because then we have to think that he is not here with us, it is that he was kind and gentle. He was excited about life. I cherish that memory very much.“
Irrfan Khan’s journey from television to global cinema
Khan began his acting journey on television before making his big screen debut in the Oscar-nominated ‘Salaam Bombay!’ with the film in 1988 Over the years, he proved his versatility with performances in films like ‘Maqbool’, ‘Haider’, ‘Piku’ and ‘The Lunchbox’. Beyond Hindi cinema, he also achieved global fame with prominent roles in international projects such as ‘Life of Pi’, ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’ and ‘Inferno’.
Irrfan Khan’s illness, latest film and surviving family
In 2018, Irrfan shared with the world that he had been diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumor, writing in a social media post, “I hope to come back with more stories to tell.” He died in 2020 after a long battle with the disease. The actor was last seen in the comedy drama ‘Angrezi Medium’, a sequel to the 2017 film ‘Hindi Medium’. He is survived by his wife, Sutapa Sikdar, and their two sons, Babil and Ayan.
