Irrfan Khan, one of the finest Indian actors who also gained tremendous popularity in Hollywood, left for his heavenly abode on Wednesday.
Today, his grieving wife Sutapa Sikdar paid tribute to her late husband with a moving note. “I have not lost, I have gained in every which way,” she wrote on Facebook.
53-year-old Khan had been admitted to Kokilaben hospital in Mumbai on Tuesday after suffering a kidney infection. Earlier, in 2018, he was diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumour and underwent treatment in London for the same.
Days after Irrfan announced his illness on Twitter, Sutapa lauded his courage. In a post shared on Facebook, she had written. “My best friend and my partner is a warrior. He is fighting every obstacle with tremendous grace and beauty.”
Sutapa stood by Irrfan through thick and thin. Talking about his wife, Irrfan had said in one of his recent interviews that it was she who kept him going even in the most difficult of times. “What to say about Sutapa? She is there 24/7. She has evolved in care-giving and if I ever get to live, I want to live for her. She is the reason for me to keep at it still,” the National Film Award-winning actor had said.
Irrfan is survived by his wife and two sons, Babil and Ayan. His son Babil thanked all well-wishers for their love and condolences. “I am deeply grateful for all the condolences you beautiful friends are pouring in for me. Although I hope you understand that right now, I am not being able to reply because my vocabulary is dizzy. I will get back to each one of you but just not right now. Thank you so much. I love you,” he wrote on Instagram.
Irrfan Khan made his film debut with Mira Nair’s award-winning film Salaam Bombay! (1988), and went on to became one of the most sough-after actors by delivering power-packed performances in a number of notable films.