In these turbulent times when each passing day brings us news of COVID -19 related deaths, today brought yet very tragic news that though not COVID -19 related was the demise of the immensely talented and much loved actor Irrfan Khan. Irrfan had been battling with neuroendocrine tumour and had was under treatment for the same in the UK. He was said to have been cured and returned to Mumbai a year later . However, yesterday he fell ill due to complications from colon infection and was rushed to the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai where he was admitted in the ICU and he breathed his last today.
Condolences from the Bollywood fraternity came pouring in . His Piku co star Amitabh Bachchan and Director Shoojit Sircar wrote :
In a recent tragic incident in his family Irrfan lost his mother Saeeda Begum, a couple of days back and due to his ill health and the National lockdown he could not attend her funeral in Jaipur but connected with his family over a video call..
The 54 year old actor had been diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumour and was under treatment and this illness had kept him away from Bollywood for a year and on his return he was recently seen in Angrezi Medium. It is rumoured that he wasn’t part of the promotion of the film due to his ill health. The theatrical premiere of the film also suffered due to the outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus; however, it had an online premiere on Disney+Hotstar. It is said that even while shooting for the film in the UK, Irrfan was undergoing treatment.
Irrfan’s wife Sutapa Sikdar and sons Babil and Ayan live in Mumbai with him and were with him in the hospital.
Irrfan is a native of Rajasthan, and studied at the National School of Drama. In the 1980’s he came to Mumbai and made a beginning by starring in TV shows like Chanakya, Banegi Apni Baat, Chandrakanta and Bharat Ek Khoj. He later went on to star in popular films like Maqbool, Paan Singh Tomar, Hindi Medium , Life in a Metro , Piku and The Lunchbox among others.
Apart from his Bollywood roles he has also been associated with many International films namely – A Mighty Heart, Slumdog Millionaire , Jurassic World, The Amazing Spider Man and the most famous Angee Lee’s Life Of Pi. He has also acted with famous actor Tom Hanks in Inferno.
He teamed up with wife Sutapa to produce Qarib Warib Single and in 2018 he acted in Karwaan and Blackmail.
He has been bestowed numerous awards including a National award for his performances.
Bollywood has indeed lost a very fine actor and a fine human being as he is fondly remembered by his friends and colleagues
