‘Slumdog Millionaire’ Star Irrfan Khan Passes Away At 53

Published on April 30, 2020.
Brittany R

Slumdog Millionaire star Irrfan Khan has passed away at the age of 53.

The famous Bollywood star – who had over 150 acting credits to his name, including notable roles in Jurassic World, Life of Pi, and The Amazing Spider-Man – had been previously experiencing health issues in the recent years and was diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumor in 2018, a rare condition affecting cells that release hormones into the bloodstream.

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“Sometimes you wake up with a jolt, with life shaking you up,” Khan wrote at the time. “Little had I known that my search for rare stories would make me find a rare disease. I have never given up and have always fought for my choices and always will.”

Earlier this week, Khan was admitted into a hospital in Mumbai with a colon infection, according to CNN. His representatives confirmed his passing to media outlets on Wednesday, April 29.

Khan is survived by his wife, Sutapa Sikdar, and their two sons, Babil and Ayan.

Sadly, Khan’s mother also passed away last week, per CNN. Unfortunately, he was not able to attend her last rites due to the ongoing social distancing rules.

Deadline obtained an emotional statement to Indian media from his family.

“‘I trust, I have surrendered’; These were the some of the many words that Irrfan expressed in a heart-felt note he wrote in 2018 opening up about his fight with cancer,” the statement said. “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. Irrfan was a strong soul, someone who fought till the very end and always inspired everyone who came close to him,” Khan’s family continued. “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,'” the statement said.

Khan was regarded as one of India’s finest actors.

The actor was born Sahabzada Irfan Ali Kan on January 7, 1967 in Tonk, and began his acting career in Indian TV soap operas. His breakthrough role was in the 2001 British-Indian film The Warrior. Soon after, he appeared in The Lunchbox, Mighty Heart, The Darjeeling Limited, New York, I Love You, and Inferno.

Throughout his career, he won a number of awards, including 2012 Indian National Film Award for best actor for his performance in Paan Singh Tomar. He was also awarded an Independent Spirit Award for supporting actor for the 2006 Indian-American drama The Namesake.

Many other Bollywood stars shared their own tributes about Khan following his passing.

“The charisma you brought to everything you did was pure magic,” Priyanka Chopra wrote on Twitter.  “Your talent forged the way for so many in so many avenues.. You inspired so many of us. #IrrfanKhan you will truly be missed. Condolences to the family.”

“Rest in peace one of the greatest actors of our time, Irrfan Khan,” British actor Riz Ahmed tweeted. “I never met him but he was an inspiration and a hero to me and millions of others. His work was consistently transcendent, he was a guiding light for so many of us.”

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