Award-winning Indian actor and cancer survivor Irrfan Khan on Wednesday died in Mumbai after battling a medical complication arising from colon infection, his publicist confirmed.
He was 53 and is survived by his wife Sutapa Sikdar and two sons Babil and Ayan.
“‘I trust, I have surrendered’, these were some of the many words that Irrfan expressed in a heartfelt note he wrote in 2018 opening up about his fight with cancer. And a man of few words and an actor of silent expressions with his deep eyes and his memorable actions on screen,” Khan’s spokesperson stated.
“It’s saddening that this day, we have to bring forward the news of him passing away. Irrfan was a strong soul, someone who fought till the very end and always inspired everyone who came close to him. After having been struck by lightning in 2018 with the news of rare cancer, he took life soon after as it came and he fought the many battles that came with it. Surrounded by his love, his family for whom he most cared about, he left for heaven, leaving behind truly a legacy of his own. We all pray and hope that he is at peace. And to resonate and part with his words he had said, ‘As if I was tasting life for the first time, the magical side of it’,” the spokesperson added.
News of Khan’s death was also confirmed by director and his close friend Shoojit Sircar.
“My dear friend Irrfan. You fought and fought and fought. I will always be proud of you. We shall meet again,” he tweeted.
The two worked together in the Bollywood blockbuster ‘Piku’.
Khan, who spent most of 2018 and 2019 battling high-grade neuroendocrine tumour in London, is one of India’s finest actors who understood the syntax and grammar of Hollywood films.
The Indian National School Of Drama graduate was last seen in director Homi Adjania’s ‘Angrezi Medium’, a heart-warming father-daughter tale in March this year. But the film couldn’t enjoy an uninterrupted screening at cinemas worldwide because of the coronavirus outbreak. Even though his last film wasn’t allowed to blossom, Khan, who has appeared in over 100 Hindi and foreign language films, has charted a fruitful career filled with cinematic gems.
