Slumdog Millionaire and Li Of Pi star Irrfan Khan has died aged 53 following a battle with colon cancer.
He was rushed to a Mumbai hospital for treatment on Tuesday after suffering a kidney infection and was placed in intensive care and died a day later.
Irrfan had been battling the tumour since 2018. He is survived by his wife Sutapa Sikdar and sons Babil and Ayan Khan.
His spokesperson said he had ‘spent his final hours surrounded by his love, his family for whom he most cared about.’
They wrote in a statement: ‘”I trust, I have surrendered”, these were some of the many words that Irrfan expressed in a heartfelt note he wrote in 2018 opening up about his fight with cancer.
‘And a man of few words and an actor of silent expressions with his deep eyes and his memorable actions on screen.
‘It’s saddening that this day, we have to bring forward the news of him passing away.
‘After having been struck by lightning in 2018 with the news of a rare cancer, he took life soon after as it came and he fought the many battles that came with it.
‘Surrounded by his love, his family for whom he most cared about, he left for heaven abode, leaving behind truly a legacy of his own.
‘We all pray and hope that he is at peace. And to resonate and part with his words he had said, “As if I was tasting life for the first time, the magical side of it”.’
Twitter was flooded with tributes from his fans on Wednesday.
They wrote: ‘RIP – Legend. #IrrfanKhan. You will be missed badly and Your work always be Remembered Sir! May you Rest in Peace.’
‘We are deeply pained at the tragic passing away of Irrfan Khan, an exceptional artist and human being.
‘Our condolences to his family, loved ones and everyone who admired his work. May his soul rest in peace.’
‘Oh Lord! One of my favorite Bollywood Actor. RIP Irrfan Khan.’
‘Well, I was not ready for this… RIP! What is this 2020 doing to the world?
“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.”’
