Filmmaker Shoojit Sircar recently opened up about his profound friendship with the late actor Irrfan Khan, reminiscing about the deep connection they shared and expressing how much he misses him with each new project.
Speaking on the podcast Unfiltered By Samdish, Sircar shared moving memories of the late actor, who passed away in 2020 from complications related to a neuroendocrine tumor. “When Irrfan had it, because I had seen my father… Irrfan and I became much closer, when we got to know about his condition because during the treatment, we started speaking quite often,” Shoojit recounted.
Shoojit shared that during Irrfan Khan’s treatment, the actor would often call and engage in long conversations, discussing a wide range of topics from cinema and life to spirituality. These discussions sometimes left Shoojit unsure of how to respond, as Irrfan would delve into ideas that ranged from the deeply spiritual to the mystical, as part of his quest for meaning and understanding.
Reflecting on that time, Shoojit mentioned how Irrfan had weighed his options between undergoing chemotherapy and exploring alternative therapies. “I sometimes wonder now if things would have been different had he chosen alternate therapy,” Shoojit said, adding that he occasionally questions whether that alternative route could have extended Irrfan’s time.
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Shoojit reflected on the intimate moments he shared with Irrfan, where they would sit together practicing breathing exercises and meditating. “Then some days I would go home and sit with him, do some breathing exercise. Irrfan, aaj main aapke saath baith ke thoda meditation karo? Bolte hain, haan karo. So, itna, as a genuine aadmi na, doodh parna bahut mushkil, aisa aadmi milna, it’s very difficult in the industry, the way Irrfan was.”
Describing Irrfan’s unique charm and warmth, Shoojit recalled how the actor would often call in the early hours, seeking nothing more than a simple chat over tea and snacks. “Uske andar ek alag hi ek, adhar hi ek humanism tha, which, that’s why he was Irrfan, uske aankhon mein abhi bhi wo chamak, wo smile, wo mujhe phone karta tha. Jab chaar baje kabhi phone aayega na uska, toh mujhe lagta tha ki, pak gaye wo, aayega abhi, chai piyega, jhal muri khaayega wo, aur bolega, dada baat karo, chalo, let’s talk,” he said.
In a heartfelt expression of grief, Shoojit admitted he wants him to come back. “Main toh bol raha hoon usko laa de wapas, usko leke aao, leke aao yaar, Irrfan should come back. Uske bina mushkil hai, survive karna. I mean this, very very difficult. What you want to do, what you want to converse, kisi ko samjhana, I think Irrfan was, I miss him in every film now, every film that I do,” he concluded.
