A flood of condolences from those who have worked closely with him is evidence that the actor was the master of versatility and the king of modern Bollywood classics, says Chahak Mittal
In the end, the whole of life becomes an act of letting go, but what always hurts the most is not taking a moment to say goodbye.” Sahabzaade Irrfan Ali Khan’s words from the film Life of Pi (2012) couldn’t explain the reality better. When the middle-aged Pi in the film begins narrating his shipwreck encounter to a Canadian author, we instantly know that he survived through all his challenges and ordeal that we are about to witness. Real life replicated reel as Irrfan successfully overcame the challenges in Hindi cinema, and, in life of battling a rare cancer. Well, almost. He returned with his last performance in Angrezi Medium, promising more such reliably engaging roles. However, destiny had other plans. The actor’s sad demise in Mumbai certainly came as a shock to every cinema connoisseur and his close ones, yesterday. A flood of condolences on social media — by celebrities and commoners alike — is evidence that his hard work and determination, a series of up-and-coming roles, and the idea that being “self-made” is indeed real, made his death feel so personal to everyone. Here are a few words from those who have worked closely with him and know how he lived only for the love of his craft.
Recalling her “first-ever” official trip to Mumbai in 2005, filmmaker and producer Guneet Monga talks about how she went there to get Irrfan’s signature for a Canadian visa document for the film, Partition. She adds, “I met him at the parking lot of Mumbai airport between flights. From then to making The Lunchbox together, he has been a dream to work with. He always took chances and encouraged new voices. He loved stories and gave them his all — from Salaam Bombay to Maqbool to Life of Pi to Jurassic Park. He is our true global star. He is cherished around the world as one of the best actors ever. And indeed, there is no one like Irrfan. The magic of his eyes and that smile will live on for generations to come. He has truly set the bar very high.”
Talking about how his demise has shaken her, she says, “I am deeply saddened by the news and don’t know how to process it. It was a privilege to see him bring so many unforgettable characters to life. I am glad I could witness his charm and unmatched wit, one last time on big screen with Angrezi Medium. He is a legend and his legacy will go on forever. He will always be in my prayers. Also praying for strength for his wife, the amazing Sutapa and his sons. Thank you for all the magic!”
Filmmaker Homi Adjania recalls how they created the film, Angrezi Medium, against all odds. Says he, “Irrfan was still undergoing treatment during the shoot. I remember once asking him why he wanted to do a film in this situation and his retort was simple. He laughed and said, ‘Idiot? I am not dead, right? So let me live doing what I love!’ And Irrfan was truly in love with his craft. He had stopped caring for fame and stardom but he never wanted to stop acting. Also, he never made his problem anyone else’s. Ironically, throughout our shoot, we all looked up to him for strength rather than the other way around. I always knew he was an amazing actor but that I got to be a small part of his journey is something I will always cherish.” It’s certainly hard to say goodbye to someone close and express sorrow and as Homi wrote his feelings to us, he ended the mail with, “Sent with opposable thumbs.”
He had earlier posted on Instagram, “We laughed about you dying... But I didn’t think I’d feel so broken when I heard what I was expecting to hear for a while now. I am eternally grateful for walking a few steps of your journey with you, that I could call myself your friend, for the memories stuffed with so much joy, so much laughter in such little time. You once told me how you had an inexplicable love for your craft but didn’t want the stardom anymore. Well, you never needed to be a star, my friend, because you shone brighter than the universe. #RIPIrrfan.”
Actor Mithila Palkar, who shared the screen with Irrfan in Karwaan, shares, “I am truly saddened hearing this news. It is heartbreaking and leaves a void that cannot be filled. We have lost one of India’s brightest lights, a wonderful, talented actor, a good human being and someone I admired deeply and was grateful to have had the opportunity to work with. I learnt so much from him while working on Karwaan. At this time, my thoughts and prayers are with his family that they find the strength to cope with this loss. May his soul rest in peace.”
Actor Richa Chadha wrote on social media, wherein she recalled her backstage experience with him in 2013. “2013, backstage... after winning our respective Filmfare (critics) awards, we were ushered away to take ‘winner photos’. You won for Paan Singh Tomar, a performance so real that it was unbelievable. We met several times after. I even sought you out for advice which you gave patiently, rolling a slim cigarette, sipping on black tea, laughing, and talking cinema, politics and spirituality. Today, you became one with god. Your body suffered in the last two years immeasurably and you fought hard! Even those who didn’t have the good fortune of meeting you feel cheated this morning. The loss is personal. There’s a heaviness about this day. Perhaps, that’s what meant to be a true artist, a people’s star! I mourn along with millions. But the transmission doesn’t end. Your soul will live on. Your legacy is ours to rejoice in! When I miss your talent, I will watch any of your countless performances, and learn and smile.”
Actor Deepika Padukone, his co-star in Piku, posted nothing more than a black photograph with a broken heart emoji.
“Jaane vaala chala jaata hai par har baar mann me ek khaalipan chhod jaata hai and you feel that this man deserved to live more,” says actor Ila Arun, as she recalls instances that proved him to be the most prolific modern Indian actor. Says she, “He struggled really hard to get what he had achieved till date and it was all because of his hard work. He is one person who got great international fame and recognition. He built his own place, whether it was in the National School of Drama or in Bollywood.”
She adds, “He has done a lot of work in TV and it’s commonly said that if you’ve done that, you don’t get big screen roles easily. But after Shah Rukh Khan, he was one person who did it, and he has done much more TV than SRK. And after Paan Singh Tomar, there was no going back. Everybody is talking about him because people think that it was uncalled for. The Coronavirus pandemic has restricted people from the industry to attend his last rites but I am sure, when all of this gets over, they will definitely pay him a big tribute because we all are deeply saddened. He was one person who had been hopeful throughout his battle with cancer. And just because of his hope, others were convinced and relaxed that he would be fine.”
Arun tells us that she was revisiting some of the scenes from Har Ghar Kuch Kehta Hai by Asian Paints, the first season of which starred Irrfan. She says, “Watching that I remembered Vinay Pathak’s words when he said, ‘Unki aankhein hazaaron afsaane kehti hain (His eyes tell a thousand stories). His voice acts like a strength to the heart, very powerful yet sensitive at the same time. And his face speaks volumes.’ And I agree with every word he said. Adding to that, I feel there was an Indianness about him that couldn’t be replaced or influenced with his many international ventures.”
It’s certainly due to this that there couldn’t have been a better actor for Hindi Medium or Life of Pi, or his any other classic, ever.
10 examples of magnificence
Irrfan Khan was a true on-screen chameleon who smoothly transformed from a top athlete to a bandit to a common man looking for a bride to a doting dad in films. The actor’s sad demise made us recall his memorable roles in films, which will stay forever in the hearts of millions of his fans. After his last, Angrezi Medium, where he played a single father on his goal to fulfill his daughter’s dream to study in London, here are 10 of his most inspiring and strongest roles:
The Warrior (2001)
His first feature film, by British filmmaker Asif Kapadia, Irrfan stars as Lafcadia, a warrior in feudal Rajasthan who attempts to give up the sword. The film later became Britain’s official Oscar selection. At the BAFTA Awards, it also won the Alexander Korda Award for Best British Film. It was also one of the films shortlisted for UK’s official entry for the Academy Awards but was ultimately dropped on grounds that the language was not indigenous to Britain.
Haasil (2003)
With a focus on student politics, the film depicted him as a student leader of Allahabad University. Irrfan received the Filmfare Award for Best Villain.
Maqbool (2004)
The crime drama about passion and power was an adaptation of the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare. In the Vishal Bhardwaj directorial that starred Pankaj Kapur and Tabu, he played the title role — right-hand man of an ageing don.
The Lunchbox (2013)
It was a romantic film but not the usual one with actors lip-syncing to love ballads. The film profiled Irrfan as a lonely man on the verge of retirement. But before his office days are over, a mistaken lunchbox delivery changes his life.
“I long to explore romance in different ways. I don’t often get that chance. This concept of love, we misuse the term. Love is a pure connection, a strong longing,” the actor had said in an interview in 2014.
Piku (2015)
It was essentially a father-daughter film that was appreciated by many for Amitabh Bachchan and Deepika Padukone’s chemistry. But Irrfan knew how to make his presence felt in the Shoojit Sircar directorial. He played the role of a man who ran a cab service in Delhi. His profession makes him join the fun yet emotional ride with the father and daughter in Piku.
The Namesake (2007)
The film essays the journey of US-based kid Gogol, whose Indian parents, Ashoke and Aashima Ganguly (played by Irrfan and Tabu) make him learn the appreciate Indian culture as he engages deeply with modern, American perspectives on dating, marriage and love.
Karwaan (2018)
The film took the audience on a fun road trip with Irrfan, Dulquer Salmaan and Mithila Palkar's characters. Irrfan portrayed the friend who everyone would want in real life too. It showed his comic side and romantic sides too.
Paan Singh Tomar (2012)
He brought to life the story of late Paan Singh Tomar, a champion athlete who later became a bandit, to the big screen. It wasn’t easy to get into the skin of Tomar, who later came to be known as the ‘Bandit King’ of the Chambal Valley.
The film, helmed by Tigmanshu Dhulia, fetched him National Award for Best Actor.
Madaari (2016)
Irrfan played a grieving father who later kidnapped a top politician’s son. “I play a man who feels the system has collapsed completely and there is a need for a reform. My character is not based on any one individual. Nor is the film an attack on my political ideology," Irrfan had said in 2016.
Hindi Medium (2017)
In the comedy-drama, Irrfan played a rich businessman who did everything — even pretended to be from the poor section of society — just to get his daughter enrolled into an elite English school.