By Arré Bench Apr. 29, 2020
Irrfan Khan had always been different from what Bollywood considers a “mainstream hero”, and his off-screen persona was equally charming. Several of his colleagues chose to remember how he had touched their lives.
The year 2020 will go down in history as the world’s most hated year. Each day our headlines and daily news are rife with stories of distress, and today it comes bearing the heartbreaking news of beloved actor Irrfan Khan’s passing.
While the 53-year-old lost his battle to a rare type of neuroendocrine tumour, Khan has only emerged a winner and his legacy speaks for itself. His on-screen characters have left an indelible mark on our lives. The actor had always been different from what Bollywood considered a “mainstream hero”, and his off-screen persona too, was equally charming. Several of his colleagues chose to remember how he had touched their lives.
Homi Adajania, who directed Angrezi Medium, the last film of Khan illustrious career, recalls a conversation with the actor in an Instagram post. He speaks of Khan’s “inexplicable love” for his work, but reveals the actor’s disinterest in stardom. “Well, you never needed to be a star my friend,” Adajania concludes, “because you shone brighter than anything in the universe.”
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Radhika Madan, who last shared screen space with Khan in Angrezi Medium, recalls the legend as “the man who changed the wave of the indian film industry.” In an image from the movie set that likely mirrors her emotions, the actress expresses her gratefulness at being able to cross paths with her inspiration “in this lifetime.”
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In a throwback image, actor Sanjay Mishra expresses his wish to meet his Irrfan bhai once again. He speaks of a time when the duo went out on their first drive in Khan’s new Maruti 800 and the latter requested Mishra to sing a song that now rings true: “नफरत की दुनिया छोड़ के प्यार की दुनिया में खुश रहना मेरे यार”.
Still remember our first drive in your new Maruti 800 and you asked me to sing, today the song rings so true 😔नफरत की दुनिया छोड़ के प्यार की दुनिया में खुश रहना मेरे यार 🙏#IrrfanKhan
— Sanjay Mishra (@imsanjaimishra) April 29, 2020
Actor-director Danish Husain in his personal tribute called Khan a great storyteller who could turn every story into “an audience’s story”.
He was the story, he was the moment. He was within you when the scene came alive. My tribute to @irrfank one of our greatest and now gone 💔 #Irrfan #RIPIrrfanKhan https://t.co/EPJwSbgi7u
— Danish Husain । دانش حُسین । दानिश हुसैन (@DanHusain) April 29, 2020
Taking us back to the days when Khan had just about started weaving his legacy, film critic Ajay Brahmatmaj savours memories from ages ago.
शुरुआती दिन
छाया : अजय ब्रह्मात्मज
अनगिनत यादें हैं तुम्हारी। pic.twitter.com/XcnUepFtZU— MrB (@brahmatmajay) April 29, 2020
Paralympian Deepa Malik remembers Khan as “a gem of an actor and person”, sharing a snapshot from the moment they had come together to “encourage all towards the cause of organ donation.”
Deeply saddened to hear of the passing of #IrrfanKhan. A gem of an actor, and person! Last met him when we were encouraging all towards the cause of organ donation. My condolences to his family. May his soul rest in peace! Om Shanti. pic.twitter.com/6lqCCrDToZ
— Deepa Malik (@DeepaAthlete) April 29, 2020
Qarib Qarib Singlle’s leading lady Parvathy Thiruvothu spoke about the time she first met Khan for the movie’s first reading. Khan’s birthday seems to have made this event a memorable one.
Remembering the first time I met Irrfan, for the first reading of QQS. It was his birthday, and the team got him a cake.
07/01/2017. 🤍 pic.twitter.com/gvZOksc3Ef— Parvathy Thiruvothu (@parvatweets) April 29, 2020
Writer Namita Gokhale recalls Khan at the Jaipur Literature Festival from back in 2014 where the actor charmed the attendees when he read out Om Prakash Valmiki’s poem “Thakur Ka Kuan” with characteristic eloquence.
A double grief today for departed friends. Irfan Khan reads from Om Prakash Valmiki’s heart rending poem ‘Thakur Ka Kuan’ at the Jaipur Lit Fest 2014. 🙏Naman pic.twitter.com/rb3xdkTo98
— Namita Gokhale (@NamitaGokhale_) April 29, 2020
Remembering Khan’s courteous and warm self, media company AIB recalled the opportunity to work with the actor, but never feeling intimidated by a “star tantrum” as one would expect, because “that’s just the sort of guy Irrfan was”.
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It’s clear that Khan will live on in the characters he created. And the memories of those whose lives he touched.
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