Acclaimed actor Irrfan, who is internationally known and recognized for his phenomenal work passed away in the wee hours of today morning. The actor was diagnosed with a rare neuroendocrine tumour n 2018 and underwent extensive treatment in London. He was admitted to the hospital in Mumbai for a colon infection but succumbed to it. He was 53 years old.
The actor’s death sent shockwaves not only in Bollywood but tributes also poured in from overseas as well. There have been tears and heartfelt condolences doing rounds, including bereavement posts from industry peers as well as the President of India Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several political leaders. Jurassic World director Colin Trevorrow, American filmmaker and distributor Ava Duvernay, author Taslima Nasreen, Star Wars actor Riz Ahmed, actor Kal Penn who worked in Mira Nair’s The Namesake with Irrfan, director Asif Kapadia, Poorna Jagannathan, Peter Ramsey and several international publications mourned the loss of such an impeccable actor. Check out their posts below:
A grateful fan of #IrrfanKhan here. Gone too soon. When he is on screen, you can’t take your eyes off of him. He lives on in his films. pic.twitter.com/aA9RAjsxSl
— Ava DuVernay (@ava) April 29, 2020
Deeply sad to have lost #IrrfanKhan. A thoughtful man who found beauty in the world around him, even in pain. In our last correspondence, he asked me to remember “the wonderful aspects of our existence” in the darkest of days. Here he is, laughing. pic.twitter.com/8eAsSOO9Ie
— Colin Trevorrow (@colintrevorrow) April 29, 2020
Irrfan’s art and humanity will be badly missed. Never seen someone use the beats of silence so beautifully to convey so much about who we are. Sending love to Sutapa and the family. pic.twitter.com/L3NN1wuz6H
— Kal Penn (@kalpenn) April 29, 2020
Rest in peace one of the greatest actors of our time, Irrfan Khan. I never met him but he was an inspiration and a hero to me and millions of others. His work was consistently transcendent, he was a guiding light for so many of us. pic.twitter.com/BwobeLvNLn
— Riz Ahmed (@rizwanahmed) April 29, 2020
If you've not seen his work, watch The Lunchbox or The Warrior. A true artist who spanned Bollywood and Hollywood and was acclaimed in both. His words in a letter to a newspaper about his illness are a reminder of his beautiful mind and of life’s fragility. His work will live on.
— Riz Ahmed (@rizwanahmed) April 29, 2020
Love you Irrfan bhai. @irrfank pic.twitter.com/zyXaV2YZbk
— asifkapadia (@asifkapadia) April 29, 2020
I’m stunned. What a magnificent actor he was. RIP #IrrfanKhan https://t.co/5RyqKtToZM
— Peter Ramsey (@pramsey342) April 29, 2020
Devastated to hear we lost our best Indian actor today. He was the opposite of Bollywood in his naturalistic style. He inhabited characters and their cobwebs so fully, you couldn’t take your eyes off of him. rip #irrfankhan
There’s no one to take your place. pic.twitter.com/edKOQ3dvvI— Poorna Jagannathan (@PoornaJags) April 29, 2020
The best actor of bollywood died today. I am deeply heartbroken.
— taslima nasreen (@taslimanasreen) April 29, 2020
Remembering. pic.twitter.com/1ZTnARtHo8
— taslima nasreen (@taslimanasreen) April 29, 2020
Many cancer patients do not die because of cancer.They get sick because of the side effects of chemotherapy e.g.infection.They go to hospitals for treatment& superbugs often catch them.They can't fight with their weak immune system against the bugs. Septicemia occurs & they die.
— taslima nasreen (@taslimanasreen) April 29, 2020
The BBC commented, “Khan was known for his nuanced and understated performances, with many calling him one of India’s most talented actors.” Deadline pointed out, “Khan, widely considered one of India’s finest actors, received numerous awards, including the National Film Award and multiple Filmfare Awards.”
“In a career that spanned over thirty years, Khan was a prolific film and television actor famed for his range as well as the humanity he brought to his roles,” The Hollywood Reporter noted in its obituary. “Mr. Khan was among the first Indian actors to make a consistent mark in Western cinema, after earlier crossover pioneers like Saeed Jaffrey, Roshan Seth and Om Puri,” The New York Times mentioned.
The Guardian wrote, "Despite his status as one of Bollywood’s most celebrated actors, Khan had a reputation for modesty and integrity and news of his death sent India into mourning, prompting actors, fans and politicians from across the world to express their sadness at his death."
(Source: Twitter/NY Times/Guardian/BBC/Hollywood Reporter)
