Lost a Gem: SAHABZADE IRRFAN KHAN(SIR)

You all must have known about what this blog is, after reading the title. Everyone has surely heard about Irrfan Khan, India’s one of the finest actors of Bollywood Industry, who passed away at a very short life span i.e. from January, 7th 1967 – April, 29th 2020. Did anyone ever imagined his loss? Have you ever thought of loosing your near ones in this phase of pandemic? No, right! No one thinks so, but when it comes, its enters our lives as a storm and leaves everything disrupted in and out. Likewise Khan Sir’s loss came to us as an unexpected and a heart throbbing news, on 29th morning. As he was rushed to Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital and Medical Research Institute, Mumbai a day before we lost him. He was diagnosed of Neuroendocrine Tumour in February 2018 and his death struck due to Colon Infection. He even underwent a surgery in London after completing the London shoot of his film Angrezi Medium in 2019.

Why does his death feel so personal to everyone? Perhaps because, he proved that success in not hereditary. It is your hardwork and good deeds which make you successful and a good human being. It doesn’t matter whose son or daughter you are, what matters is how much of honesty and integrity you put into your work and while performing in front of the camera. I am sure you all would agree that, the moment he looked at the camera, he could connect with his audience very well, even without speaking a word. It’s well said that “Silence Speaks a lot”. Yeah it does! And, he was the one who proved it, in all his performances through his marvellous acting skills.

Let’s have a glimpse of start of life journey of a fabulous actor,

Irrfan Khan was born as Sahabzade Irrfan Ali Khan, in Jaipur, Rajasthan to a Muslim Pashtun family. Though being a shy child in school days, he was a skilled cricketer, he couldn’t turn up for CK Nayudu tournament due to lack of funds. Later in 1984, after completion of Masters in Art Degree and gaining scholarship to study at National School of Drama (NSD) in New Delhi, one of the best actors arrived Bombay. But he had to do odd jobs & had worked as an air conditioner repairman, even at the house of prominent superstar Rajesh Khanna, at the start of his career. On 23 February 1995, Khan married a writer and fellow NSD graduate Sutapa Sikdar, who gave everything possible to support her incredibly talented husband in his career. Irrfan Sir had two sons, namely – Babil & Ayan Khan. In 1993, he didn’t have enough money to watch Jurrasic Park-1, But 22 years later he acted A Role in it. Isn’t it inspiring?

His journey in films took a high after his British film “ The Warrior”. Post which he became famous, & continued his journey in Hollywood films namely, A Mighty Heart, The Namesake, Partition, Slumdog Millionare, The Amazing Spider-Man, Life of Pi, The Expose in which did Special Apperance, Jurassic World, Inferno, Puzzle and became a Star in British and American Films. Who ever knew that a Slumdog Millionare and Jurassic World actor would be a heart throb of nation one day!

In India, enacting in various television shows and series before beginning of Hindi Cinema, namely a few - Chanakya, Bharat Ek Khoj, Chandrakanta, Shrikant (Doordarshan), gave Khan sir a leap of faith in Bollywood. He gave 30 Years of his life to Bollywood Industry, with his debut in ‘Saalam Bombay’, in1988 and left us too early with his last glimpse in Angrezi Medium, in 2020. How many of you actually got a chance to see him the last time ‘On Big Screen’ in theatres?? A charismatic star in Hindi and English language movies, whose hardworking career was an enormously valuable bridge between South Asian and Hollywood Cinema.

The Legendary Actor, who gave India the best movies with his excellent performances with some I would like to name- Billu in Billu Barber, Pann Singh Tomar in Paan Singh Tomar, Pi Patel in Life of Pie, Rana Chaudhary in Piku, Simon Masrani in Jurassic World, Babloo in The Jungle Book, Raj Batra in Hindu Medium, Champak Bansal in Angrezi Medium and Saajan Fernandes in Lunchbox, many more such wonderful films he has given us. With his overwhelming & splendid performances, he won ample of awards. A few of them are – IIFA Award & Filmfare Award for Best Actor, 2018- Hindu Medium; IIFA Award for Best Supporting Actor & Filmfare Award for Best Actor Supporting Actor, 2008- Life in a Metro;

Padma Shri- in 2011; National Film Award for Best Actor, 2013- Paan Singh Tomar; Asian Film Award for Best Actor, 2014- Lunchbox; Stardust Award for Performance of the Year, 2015- Talvar; Dubai International Film Festival Lifetime Achievement Award- in 2017, and many more.

We all believe ‘Work is Worship’. But how many of you actually implement in reality? Hardly a few. Majorly for some of us work is a 9-5 job or, for some its just working to earn salary, to pay off debts or needs of his/her family. Everyone has their own struggles they are fighting and they are absolutely right in their own way of living, since circumstances are not same for everyone. We have a same book with different chapters but similar life lessons. Talking about Khan Sir, he truly believed in his work, made his passion turn into reality, fulfilled and lived his dream & became an inspiration for many new comers in the Film Industry. We all are well-known with the fact of survival in industry without a ‘Film Background’. Now you can sense why he was a Self-Made Man and a Versatile Actor who built himself over the years in industry, only with his work and phenomenal acting skills. He had the talent to turn ‘simple comman man’ roles into a character worth remembering. Our lovable Khan Sir was a great person with good heart and humble nature towards all. On this note, I remember one of the old songs of Sir R.D.Burman- (Perfectly for Irrfan sir, right?)

Ek Din Bik Jaayega Maati ke Mol,

Jag Mein Reh Jaayengey Pyaare Tere Bol.

Sahabzade was truly was a Magnificient Man, wasn’t he? Life is not fair for all but we need to accept the reality and whatever life throws at us. Its rightly said, “If Life gives you Lemons, make Lemonades”. They say we need to be prepared for the best and the worst! Tell me, how many of you are actually prepared for the worst? Hardly, right? It’s because we never think of the worst scenarios and its valid why should we even, when we are taught to be positive all the time which is truly a good thing. Being optimistic about life isn’t wrong, i say everyone should be positive about life and its out-comings, even in a negative situation. But the view point is, we hardly discuss or talk about- how to deal with the worst experiences of life!! That is much more important because, if we don’t heal form the worst we won’t be able to enjoy the best ones coming after it. We say its just a phase it shall pass, keep hopes and strength within. Meanwhile, what about the battles, emotional anxieties and sorrows, disrupting and breaking a person, mentally and emotionally affecting physical health too? We can only deal through it, by facing it, as running from it can never be a solution and never has!! So my friends, Face it to overcome them, Face it to heal yourself mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually.

I believe Strength comes from uplifting yourself, the everytime you are put down, and that come back then would be no less than that of a Warrior to stand upright and face the world fearlessly with self-confidence and belief. Not all ends need conclusions, some just require, a smile with a heavy heart, and beautiful memories left behind of Sahabzade Irfan Khan, which will be remembered life long by us.

I would like to sign off here with one of my favourite and the heart touching dialouges of Khan Sir from the movie Life of Pie, saying-

“I suppose, 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.”