Irrfan Khan’s death in 2020 felt like a personal loss to scores of fans across the world. The actor made a special place in everyone’s heart with his work. Even today, people often talk about his craft and his film. But beyond his various achievements, several highest-grossing films in Bollywood and Hollywood, stellar acting chops that left one speechless, he touched lives with his words.
Today marks Khan’s 55th birth anniversary and MW remembers the prolific actor by looking at some of the best life lessons given by him.
Also Read: Goodbye, Roohdaar: The Towering Cinematic Presence of Irrfan Khan
“The key to a happy life is to accept you are never actually in control.”
“Izzat aur zillat aap ke haath mein nahin hai! (Honour and disgrace are not in your hands!)”
“Kindness just makes life more bearable, as more happy people will make a happy world.”
“Failure is there to teach you something so that you can go beyond that.”
“The sign of a good society is where talent is respected.”
“I’m not a very talkative man, and people are threatened by silence. If you’re sitting in a group and you’re not saying anything, people start getting insecure. They start thinking, he’s a snob. Or, he’s thinking something negative about me. Silence brings out your devils.”
“It pains me when a film actor or a cricketer is a youth icon. I don’t have anything against them. They are great entertainers; they are useful to the society. They contribute to people’s lives. But they are not heroes.”
Khan made his film debut with the movie Salaam Bombay! in 1988. His choices were challenging and he proved his art in every scene, while also keeping the audience drawn in at all times. In his career that spanned over 30 years, he earned numerous honours. He was honoured with a National Film Award, an Asian Film Award, and six Filmfare Awards. In 2011, he was awarded the Padma Shri.
In March 2018, Khan was diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumour. He underwent treatment for it and recovered to shoot Angrezi Medium, which, sadly, turned out to be his last one. He passed away on April 29, 2020, at the age of 53, in Mumbai. He was survived by his wife Sutapa Sikdar and sons Babli Khan and Ayan Khan.
Babil, who is also an actor, will be seen in Qala alongside Tripti Dimri.
Also Read: Here’s What The Doctors Have To Say About Irrfan Khan’s ‘NeuroEndocrine Tumour’
