No words can express the feeling of loss that Irrfan Khan’s family, and millions of fans, are experiencing as he left for heavenly abode. A man of few words, a performer and an actor of deep expressions. It is not only saddening but also heart-wrenching that such a strong personality, left us so early when the world could have gained so much from his talent.
When he was struck with the shocking news of having rare cancer his only words were ” I trust, I have surrendered”. He fought many battles of life and still kept his cool and made peace with the circumstances. On April 25 2020 he received the shocking news of his mother’s demise from this world but he could not even attend her funeral. A powerhouse of talent, Irrfan has left behind a true legacy.
Let us take a quick, small journey through the ups and downs in the life of this Bollywood to Hollywood actor.
Born “Sahabzade”
Irrfan was one of the few actors in Bollywood who had royalty flowing in their veins. His full name is Sahabzade Irfan Ali Khan. Irrfan, born on January 7, 1966, hailed from the village of Tonk in Jaipur. His father was a wealthy zamindar who had a tyre business. His mother was the descendant of the Tonk Hakim family.
Masters Degree Holder
Very few people know that Irrfan was fine cricketer, he was selected for CK Nayudu Tournament i.e. an opening for anyone in the First-Class cricket. He did away with the opportunity due to insufficient funds. Irrfan enrolled himself to study Master of Arts and going forward he also got a scholarship to join NSD ( National School Of Drama), New Delhi for a diploma course.
Struggles Of Life
Irrfan had a rough start to his career when he first came to Mumbai. He did odd jobs such as tutor, repairman, etc. It is even said that he visited Rajesh Khanna’s house to repair AC there. He debuted in 1998 with “Salaam Bombay”, which was nominated for Academy Awards. At one point in time, he chose to give up on acting as there was not much for him in movies and he was only doing some television shows, which was not sufficient.
Better Half – Sutapa Sikdar
Irrfan got married to a Hindu Brahmin in 1995. They both met at NSD and ever since they were together. Sutapa is a famous Producer, Dialogue Writer, and Screenplay Writer. Some of her work: Khamoshi: The Musical (Dialogue Writer, 1996), Supari (Dialogue Writer, 2003), Kahaani (Dialogue Writer, 2003), Madaari (Producer, 2016), Qarib Qarib Singlle (Producer, 2017). Irrfan also has 2 sons – Ayaan Khan and Babil Khan
Moment Of Change – The Warrior
Irrfan Khan bagged the movie “The Warrior” by Asif Kapadia. It took 11 months to complete the movie and it was released internationally in 2001. This movie changed the whole course of the professional career for Irrfan. He became famous worldwide. After this movie, there was no looking back for Irrfan. He acted in numerous movies both in Bollywood and Hollywood. In 2004, he won the Filmfare Best Villain Award for his film ‘Haasil’. Another turning point in his career was in 2008, Slumdog Millionaire. Life of A Pie, In Treatment, Jurrasic World are few of his movies that broke records all over the world.
Irrfan Special
Irrfan in 2011 received the fourth highest civilian award ” the Padma Shri “. In 2014, Nolan called Irrfan. Well, when you get a call from Christopher Nolan obviously it is something important and it is priceless. Irrfan got an offer from the Hollywood director for a substantial role in “Interstellar”, which Irrfan denied. He was already doing Lunch Box and D-Day and hence could not commit more. Even the actress Julia Roberts admitted and praised Irrfan for his acting skills especially in Namesake. The Hollywood star met Irrfan at one of the Oscar nights.
The Real Warrior
Irrfan was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, neuroendocrine tumor, in 2018 and he moved to London for his treatment. He showed his will and strong character in tough times. People close to Irrfan have always said that his life was tough all-through but he faced all the adversity with positivity and fought like a true warrior.
The Final Good-Bye
On April 29th Irrfan Khan took his last breath in Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital where he was being treated for colon infection. The 53-year-old actor’s personality was defined by positivity and humility. Many Bollywood celebrities took to social media to mourn this irreparable loss to the industry. Irrfan’s last words were ” Amma has come to take me”
Irrfan’s Last Audio
Here is the last audio clip from Irrfan Khan promoting his movie Angrezi Medium. In this clip, you can sense his stability in tough times, his positivity in adverse situations, and his character while fighting a terminal illness. You can hear the clip here.
Irrfan’s Famous Dialogues
Here some of his famous dialogues that show the depth he carried in his acting and his unmatched style and persona. Watch these truly mesmerizing dialogues here
Binge Watch
We’ll all miss him. If you wish to raise a toast to this fine gentleman’s great work, here is a list of his some popular movies for you to have a go at
Hotstar
Angrezi Medium
Talvar
Maqbool
Amazon
Hindi Medium
Life of Pi
Piku
Netflix
Lunchbox
Pansingh Tomar
Qarib Qarib Single
Haider
Youtube
Haasil
Madaari
Salaam Bombay
Ye Saali Zindagi
Irrfan was a great soul and a strong mind. He won the hearts of millions of fans around the world through his acting and professionalism. He was and will be known for his brilliant dialogue delivery. May his soul Rest In Peace.
