Shreya Mukherjee (HINDUSTAN TIMES; May 13, 2020)

Everyone who knew Irrfan Khan, has only words of praise for him. And it’s no different for Papon. The singer, who knew him for almost two decades, says the news of the actor’s demise was hard on him. Irrfan, 54, passed away on April 29. Papon shared a video in which Irrfan lauds the singer’s talent.

“I knew him since our Delhi days, around 2002-03. He’d often come to my house. After he shifted to Mumbai, we were in touch over phone, and when I came to Mumbai, we’d often bump into each other. Things were good till he fell ill. We were in touch and he would ask my recommendations for songs, while undergoing his treatment in London,” recalls Papon, who worked with Irrfan in Qarib Qarib Singlle (2017) and Karwaan (2018).

Praising Irrfan, Papon, 44, says, “Jo log sau saal mein nahi kar paate, unhone pachaas saal mein kar diya. The entire world mourned his loss. When I first met him, he was vulnerable and inquisitive. Two decades later, he was still the same. He never changed,” says Papon, who is trying to stay positive during these times by doing online concerts to raise funds. “It’s not easy to stop negative thoughts. But how we focus on positives is up to us,” he says.

The singer is enjoying time with family. “My children (Puhor, 10, and Parijaat, 8) have learnt household chores. The best thing is that they are learning the piano so quickly,” adds Papon.