Nobody can ever replace him: Irrfan Khan’s son, wife remember the actor on death anniversary

Legendary actor Irrfan Khan passed away on this day a year ago. Irrfan’s wife, Sutapa Sikdar, and elder son, Babil, remembered the late actor with heartfelt notes on social media. 

In her note, Sutapa recalled how Irrfan spent his last day in the hospital. “People living deeply have no fear of death - Anais Nin your favourite poet Irrfan. Last year tonight, me and my friends sang songs for you, all your favorite songs. The nurses were looking at us strangely as they were used to religious chants in critical times, but I had overdone that for you Irrfan morning, evening and night for two years and since they told me it was time, I wanted you to go with memories you loved so we sang songs. Next day, you left for the next station. I hope you knew where to get down without me..363 days, eight thousand seven hundred and twelve hours..when each second is counted," she wrote.

Irrfan passed away at 11:11 am at the Kokilaben Hospital in Mumbai, where he was receiving treatment for a colon infection. In 2018, Irrfan had revealed he was diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumour. 

Sutapa also reflected on the surreal timing of his death. “How exactly does one swim this huge ocean of time. The clock had stopped At 11.11 on 29th april for me. Irrfan, you had a keen interest in the mystery of numbers..and funny you had three 11's on your final day. Some say, actually, many say, this is a very mystical number 11/11/11. How does one walk ahead the pandemic just adds to the anxiety, fear and pain," she shared.

She also spoke about the difficult phase of having to change her name."The days went by with umpteen responsibilities some extremely new ones like signature galore for changing of name. My fingers kept stopping on that how could I just take his name away and make it Sutapa. I was unable to sign took a day off and the name game played on my mind. Like a film in a projector," she wrote.

Sutapa then recalled the day she met Irrfan for the first time. The two had met as classmates at the National School of Drama. 

In conclusion, Sutapa wrote, “It's been a long journey of correcting each other, spanning a lifetime. Fighting, arguing, laughing, evolving together. You were the loner in a crowd. And now a whole crowd has followed you up there... All of you stay in peace, remember us that we loved you, all of you. And remember, all of you is missed by someone or the other ..all your families grieve ..may you all rest in peace! I hope there is enough space, I hope some of you will forgive us for not been able to give a respectable cremation.” 

Irrfan’s son, Babil, posted a picture of the actor on Instagram. It shows Irrfan making a chair during his days of battling cancer. 

Babil wrote, "Chemo burns you from the inside, so to find joy in the simple things, like building your own table to write your own journals. There is a purity, I have not yet discovered. There is a legacy that has already been concluded by my Baba himself. A full stop. Nobody can ever replace him. Nobody will ever be able to. To the greatest best friend, companion, brother, father, I ever had and ever will have."