Saba Qamar who shared the screen with the late Irrfan Khan in the 2017 superhit Hindi Medium says that she is “deeply disturbed” to hear about the passing of her co-star.

Read more – Bollywood actor Irrfan Khan passes away

“I still can’t absorb the news”, said the actor. “It feels like yesterday coming back from the sets of Hindi Medium. You taught me a lot as an actor and a mentor. It is indeed a huge loss to the cinema world.”

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Sending her heartfelt condolences to Khan’s family, Saba ended her note using her character name from the film.

Similarly, Adnan Siddiqui who worked with Khan in the Hollywood film A Mighty Heart also penned an emotional note in memory of the actor and shared his experience of working with the actor. He shared that he learnt a lot from Irrfan and that the two became good friends. Adnan also opened up about his last meeting with Khan.

“In 2018 while attending IPPA in London. I found out that he was in London, though he wasn’t meeting anyone he agreed to meet me,” wrote Siddiqui. “We had a long chat about movies and the world in general. He looked so positive.”

“His last words were: “Adnan, I’ll be fine very soon and I’ll be back. InshAllah!”

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“Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un”….. "Verily we belong to God, and verily to Him do we return."! Disturbed and gutted!! A fine soul gone too soon. I had the honour of first meeting Irrfan as a co-star on the sets of ‘A Mighty Heart.’ For one of the scenes after learning his lines I saw him doing the scene again and again which left me puzzled. I asked him, Irrfan Sahab ye kya kar rahe hain aap? He replied- We’re both playing CID agents which means we’ll be showing our ID cards everywhere. I’m practicising the scene so I don’t look clumsy while showing the ID card. And that was the first time I realised what a fine actor he was. We’d become friends on the sets and used to hang out together after the shoot. I remember for another scene, he wanted to know a word in Urdu used commonly in Pakistan and he asked me. He was a great actor but didn’t shy away from learning and perfecting his art. One of the evenings, he shared an incident where him and his friend got the role of an extra actor in James Bond series “Octopussy” which was shot in India. But because they cycled to the set, they were late and the shoot was over. He told me since then he wanted to do a Hollywood movie. Our careers in Hollywood started together, but he proved his mettle and conquered the fort. In 2018 while attending IPPA in London. I found out that he was in London, though he wasn’t meeting anyone he agreed to meet me. We had a long chat about movies and world in general. He looked so positive. His last words were- “Adnan, I’ll be fine very soon and I’ll be back. InshAllah”! Who knew today, I would be penning this note. Condolences and strength to his family. Irrfan, you will be missed a lot. Rest in peace my friend.?

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Khan, whose international movie career included hits such as Slumdog Millionaire, Life of Pi and The Amazing Spider-Man was diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumour in 2018. He spent most of 2018 and 2019 battling the disease in London. However, he was admitted to a Mumbai hospital earlier this week with a colon infection which ultimately took his life. He was 53.

“Irrfan was a strong soul, someone who fought till the very end and always inspired everyone who came close to him,” his publicist said in a statement. “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’.”

Other Pakistani actors who mourned the actor’s death include Mahira Khan, Imran Abbas, Zara Noor Abbas and Sajal Aly.

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Wo Jo tha Khawaab sa Kya kahain jaane de #RIPIrfanKhan

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Read more – Sherry Rehman calls Irrfan Khan ‘one of Pakistan’s best’

Meanwhile, across the border, the entire Bollywood fraternity is mourning the loss of their loved one. From Amitabh Bachchan to Shah Rukh Khan to Sonakshi Sinha, everyone has expressed their grief over the actor’s death.