Irrfan, an artiste of exceptional sensitivity, changed the perception about Indian actors in the West by reminding them that we are not about just mannerism and theatrics, says Prasoon Joshi
Anshul Chaturvedi (BOMBAY TIMES; May 5, 2020)

Beyond the immediate reactions – the sorrow, the loss – what thoughts come to your mind when you think of Irrfan, the actor?
I was very closely in touch with him. He used to share a lot with me... meri kaafi us se baat-cheet hoti rehti thi, phone pe hi hoti thi aksar. Aur main aapko ye cheez keh sakta hoon ki pain se bahut guzra hai woh aadmi. I’ve spoken to him after his therapy sessions, they were like... he used to say, “Aisa lagta hai ki pain aur main ek hi cheez hain. Pehle toh main cheekhein marta tha, ab woh bhi band ho gaya hai. Ab aisa lagta hai main hi pain hoon, aur pain hi main hoon. Itna zyada painful uska procedure hota hai.”

I used to be stunned when, after saying that, he used to talk about coming back and finishing his work commitments. I used to feel ki aap ka pain agar aap puri tarah camouflage nahin kar sakte hain toh aap scene pe kaise aayenge? Aap kisi aur ka role play kar rahe hain. Toh completely, you know, overcoming that, and facing the camera, it’s remarkable – so the first thing is that.

The second thing is, he was a very sensitive artiste, a nuanced artiste. Sensitivity comes with you know... pain joh hota hai woh bhi utni hi shiddat se hota hai. Your intensity – the intensity you feel, the pain is also as intense as you feel other emotions. You accentuate it, and your pain is also accentuated. And that is the reason it is remarkable that he used to still come and face the camera. It is not an easy task.

And the sense of professionalism and commitment and also, you know... to laugh at the little ironies of life, that ability also he had not lost till the end. That is the reason I feel that it is something which is to be remembered, and to be inspired by. I used to feel inspired by it. In fact, when I used to talk to him, I used to feel kya yaar hum itni chhoti-chhoti problems mein uljhe hue hain, yeh aadmi itni badi problem ke baad bhi keh raha hai ki main aa ke abhi yeh kar raha hoon, woh kar raha hoon.

Is Hindi cinema feeling the loss of the man, or the actor, to a greater degree?
Irrfan was not a mannerism star. Even if he was doing an ad, he used to take over the screen. Iss generation mein itne fine kalakar bahut kam hai. I don’t think we (fully) acknowledge that sort of work. We are so used to fanfare and razzmatazz that what this man used to very subtly do probably will take a lot of study – which should be done. To see how effortlessly he has played so many roles which have, you know, found their space... and he’s completely versatile. He changed the perception about Indian actors in the western world also that – we are not about just mannerism and theatrics.

An actor for whom the gym wasn’t the core point of prepping for a role?
Yeah, yeah… That’s what, probably a new kind of stardom. The difference between ‘star’ and ‘artiste’ can very clearly be seen. Well, he is a star... but what’s the definition of it? Someone who lives the role and lives what he does, is what he did. We normally have less appreciation, especially in cinema industry, there is less appreciation for nonmannerism people because, you know, they are less bankable. Because they always reinvent the wheel.

So the people who reinvent the wheel are the people who always challenge the audience. He’s not someone who lulls you into passive consumption. He pushes you into active consumption. He makes you participate in what he is doing. So with Irrfan, it’s a two-way traffic. You also have to sort of, be with him in his exploration. While he is exploring a new way of approaching a role, you have to be with him. So he’s also a little demanding, thoda aap se mehnat ki tavaqqo (expectation) rakhte hain.

He doesn’t lull you into sitting and enjoying a spectacle. He expects you to hold his hand and go on a journey, and explore what he is exploring. Now that’s where the difference between star versus explorer is. A templated one is predictable so you know what you are expecting.

Like when you know what to expect from the popcorn, the cola and the movie at the outset, before you enter the hall – something that you couldn’t do with an Irrfan film?
Correct. Well said. But with Irrfan you are also on a journey as he was on a journey. He was a different kind of an actor, and a different kind of star. And a true star, in my opinion. I would keep him as one of the finest in the Indian film history. I will keep him there. I will not keep him as one of the great actors of this era. I think he was definitely beyond his era. Historically, I will keep him, as one of the best we ever had.

After two years of battling cancer, Irrfan passed away in Mumbai on Wednesday. The acclaimed actor was hospitalised following a colon infection. Irrfan, 53, is survived by wife Sutapa and sons Babil and Ayan
Anshul Chaturvedi (BOMBAY TIMES; April 30, 2020)

“The only thing certain was the uncertainty. All I could do was to realise my strength and play my game better. This realisation made me submit, surrender and trust, irrespective of the outcome, irrespective of where this takes me, eight months from now, or four months from now, or two years.”

That was June 2018. Irrfan was summing up his sentiments as he battled pain and cancer in London. Two years. Two years, the upper end of what he had said, is what it turned out to be.

When he was discussing the rough draft of his 2018 note, he explained why he wanted to share how he felt. “I don’t want to be miserable. Whatever is happening with me, I want to see it in the third person.” His first reflex on hearing of it had been to say to his son, “Fear and panic should not overrule me and make me miserable.”

And then, he — with that trademark pause he had midconversation — exclaimed, “Ek struggling period na ban kar yeh agar ek exploration period ban jaaye, to bada mazaa aayega!”

And an exploration he did make of it. Instead of retreating into himself, his awareness of the smallest of things sharpened. From the lawns of his London hospital he would take pictures of budding flowers, and write “Each flower, each twig, each leaf which has come from the cumulative prayers, each fills me with wonder, happiness and curiosity.” Back in India, back doing what he loved best, shooting, on the sets of Angrezi Medium, sapped of energy, he would constantly make observations about the birds, the trees, the architecture.

It was surreal to see how undemanding he was, in his state, how accepting, how nobody had to give him space or walk on ice around him. But then, he wasn’t on edge because he wasn’t fighting anything, other than the pain. He had surrendered, submitted, ‘irrespective of the outcome’.

Irrfan was a philosopher as much as an actor, and he lived his post-diagnosis phase with great courage, retaining that curiosity, the instinct to communicate, though over the past few months that gradually diminished and he only mustered up enough energy to talk about his last film. As he put it, “My personal battle has made me more sensitive in a good and a bad way. I was a man of few words, and now they’ve become fewer.”

In June 2018, when he explained to us his first reaction, he used a very relatable example:

And suddenly someone taps on my shoulder and I turn to see. It’s the TC: “Your destination is about to come. Please get down.” I am confused: “No, no. My destination hasn’t come.” “No, this is it. This is how it is sometimes.”

This is how it was, this time. The TC has had his way. Irrfan has deboarded the train. But what a journey he made of it!
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BATTLING CANCER

MARCH 2018: Irrfan revealed he is suffering from neuroendocrine tumour and was going to London for treatment

"Learning that I have been diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumour as of now has admittedly been difficult, but the love and strength of those around me that I found within me has brought me to a place of hope

JUNE 2018: ‘Uncertainty is the only certainty’, observed Irrfan, as he gave us a glimpse into his journey – from the shock of the diagnosis to the calmness of the realisation that ‘the cork doesn’t need to control the current it’s floating in’

"In this chaos, shocked, afraid and in panic, I blabber to my son, 'The only thing I expect from me is not to face this crisis in this present state. I desperately need my feet. Fear and panic should not overrule me and make me miserable'

APRIL 2019: Irrfan returned to the sets after a year of battling cancer. “His mind is in a better place when he is doing what he does best. He is happy, see?” wife Sutapa told us

"The people around me on set are so gentle, so supportive. Everyone is always careful that I shouldn't be in any need. Shooting I love, of course, and more than that, this is just like being at home"

FEB-MARCH 2020: Irrfan prepared for the release of his first film in two years, Angrezi Medium, which also became his last

"Main aaj aapke saath hoon bhi aur nahin bhi...Kahawat hai, when life gives you lemon, you make lemonade. Bolne mein achha lagta hai, par sach mein, jab zindagi aapke haath mein nimbu thamati hai, toh shikanji banana bahut mushkil ho jaata hai (laughs). Lekin aapke paas aur choice bhi kya hai positive rehne ke alawa...watch the film...and yes, wait for me"

Avijit Ghosh (THE TIMES OF INDIA; April 30, 2020)

His eyes were multi-taskers. They could rage like a bushfire, be warm and tender like a grandma’s lap and convey the chaos inside a head for the world to see. Irrfan Khan, who passed away in a Mumbai hospital on Wednesday, sourced his eyes — and that lean, gangly frame — to create a cache of unforgettable characters in both Bollywood and Hollywood. He was 53.

Shoojit Sircar, his director in ‘Piku’, broke the news on social media. Sircar tweeted, “My dear friend Irrfan. You fought and fought and fought. I will always be proud of you…”

In 2018, the Jaipur-born actor was diagnosed with a malignant neuroendocrine tumour. He underwent treatment in London and recovered to rejoin work last year. Irrfan’s latest, ‘Angrezi Medium’, was released days before the lockdown and shifted to an OTT platform. His mother, Saeeda Begum, had passed away last week.

Any actor would be proud to own a resume like him. ‘Haasil’, ‘Paan Singh Tomar’, ‘Maqbool’, ‘Life In A Metro’, ‘The Lunchbox’ and ‘Hindi Medium’ are marked by sincerity of performance and polished aesthetics that fetched him awards and applause.

If Bollywood was his bread, Hollywood became his butter in the latter part of his glittering career.
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‘Bhaijaan has gone to meet our mother’

Already mourning the recent death of Irrfan’s mother Saeeda Begum, his family in Jaipur was devastated a second time. “It appears that as Bhaijaan was unable to make it for the burial of our mother, he has gone to meet her,” said younger brother Imran Khan.
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A love story that bloomed at NSD

Irrfan met his wife, Sutapa, at National School of Drama (NSD), from where they both graduated in 1987. His friend, Alok Chatterjee, now director of MP School of Drama, wrote a note on his behalf and slipped it to Sutapa. She told him to ask Irrfan to speak to her rather than using a ‘dakia’.


Irrfan and Sutapa studied at NSD. Alok Chatterjee, who now heads MP School of Drama, played messenger for Irrfan, conveying his feelings to Sutapa. She was not amused, but finally agreed to go out with him

BOMBAY TIMES (April 29, 2020)

Actor Irrfan was admitted to Mumbai’s Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital last night, according to sources. He is in the ICU.

His spokesperson confirmed, “It is true that Irrfan is admitted to the ICU at Kokilaben (hospital) in Mumbai because of a colon infection. We will keep everyone updated. He is under doctor’s observation. His strength and courage have helped him battle and fight so far and we are sure with his tremendous willpower and prayers of all his well-wishers, he will recover soon.”

The actor was diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumour in 2018. Soon after, he left for London for treatment, which kept him away from films for over a year.

Angrezi Medium marked his return, but he kept away from the movie’s promotions owing to health reasons. A source close to the actor revealed that while he has been battling health issues, he was doing okay before the lockdown. However, his condition deteriorated post his mother’s demise a few days ago.
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Hiren Kotwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 29, 2020)

Irrfan Khan has been admitted to the intensive care unit of a suburban hospital with a colon infection, his spokesperson said in a statement on Tuesday.

“Yes, it is true that Irrfan Khan is admitted to the ICU at Kokilaben in Mumbai because of a colon infection. We would keep everyone updated. He is under doctor’s observation,” the statement read as rumours about the 53-year-old actor’s health started doing the rounds. “His strength and courage have helped him battle and fight so far and we are sure that with his tremendous willpower and prayers of his well-wishers, he will recover soon,” the statement added.

Irrfan was diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumour, a rare form of cancer that targets various parts of the body, in 2018, after which the actor went abroad for treatment. Last year, he returned to shoot for Homi Adajania’s Angrezi Medium, the sequel to his 2017 hit, Hindi Medium. However, his health condition prevented him from promoting the film, which hit theatres just before a lockdown was imposed on March 25 to contain the coronavirus outbreak.

A few days ago, Irrfan lost his mother, Saeeda Begum, and was unable to attend the last rites in Jaipur due to the lockdown. 

Irrfan, who has been undergoing treatment for neuroendocrine tumour since 2018, says he is just counting his blessings; adds he is content to have made a ‘happy’ film like Angrezi Medium
Prashant Singh (HINDUSTAN TIMES; March 6, 2020)

We really don’t need to underline the fact that he is one of the best Indian actors — as well as much loved — in recent times. Probably that’s why when in 2018, Irrfan revealed that he was diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumour, it sent shock waves through the industry and outside. The actor, who has been undergoing continuous treatment since then, has been largely away from the world of showbiz. Now though, he is set for a fresh tryst with the silver screen, with his next, Angrezi Medium. “I am not nervous. In fact, I am just happy and nothing else,” says the actor about his state of mind right now. Excerpts:

To start with, how is your health? And what’s your state of mind?
Honestly, I don’t know; I really don’t know. While some days are great, others are bad. Most of the time, I think I am cleaning the clutter away from noise.

In your trailer message for Angrezi Medium, you touched upon your fight against your illness and also gave a message about being ‘kind to each other’. Has the illness changed your entire perspective and outlook towards life?
I had become excessively busy (before falling ill), so much so that I almost missed (watching) my sons (Babil and Ayan) become young adults from little boys. I was running out of time all the time. Ironically now, I have kind of an idea what ‘running out of time’ actually means. So, I am just counting my blessings and thanking everyone who has prayed for me.

Talking of work, Angrezi Medium is up for release next to next week. Are you nervous or excited, considering you haven’t had a new film release for a while? Did you miss being on the sets all this while?
To be honest, all my anxiety has been exhausted with the roller-coaster ride of this disease. I am content that we have been able to make a happy film. So, the answer is: no, I am not nervous. I am just happy and nothing else.

What was it like working on the film? Your director, Homi Adajania said that you felt you have forgotten how to act when you first arrived on the sets. Did you take time to get into the ‘zone’?
Yes, Homi is absolutely right. That’s exactly what I felt but then, I intentionally kept it that way. I did not use any technique (of acting) which I had used earlier. I have approached acting very differently in Angrezi Medium. Now, you all should watch it, and tell me if it worked or not.

This film comes after the success of Hindi Medium. How was it like to get back into that space and does it help to have the same team again including the producer (Dinesh Vijan)?
I really like working with Dinoo (Dinesh Vijan). He has been rock solid and that’s (teaming up with him) a huge comfort zone for me.

In the trailer message, what came as really heartwarming was your message, ‘wait for me.’ How are you going about the future? Are you thinking about taking up other films?
I don’t know. Who knows about the future? Two years back, I was giving names of films that I had in the pipeline but then, what happened? So, I believe that whatever is in store for me will reveal itself. And it will be good so, I will wait for it.

Irrfan Khan reveals that his illness has brought the family even closer, explains how his upcoming release is different from Hindi Medium and flashbacks to unforgettable moments from his films
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 3, 2020)

In all these years, one never connected with Irrfan Khan with questions in mind. The conversations would be freewheeling; about life, living, learning, evolving, and along the way, we spoke about films, too.

But after an illness took him out of the country for treatment, one had to think of questions to touch base with him, and it felt like a challenge. So, I did the next best thing, I wrote him a letter, weaving some queries in and he responded to them, agreeing that interviews are about conversations. But, conveying a smile through an emoji, observed that “from where I stand every challenge challenges our creativity”.

After a year-and-a-half, he has a film, Angrezi Medium, coming up for release, produced by his Hindi Medium filmmaker, Dinesh Vijan. And while he hopes that everyone enjoys it, Irrfan is anticipating some “healthy criticism” as well. The film revolves around a father-daughter relationship, with the latter aspiring to go abroad for higher studies. Does Irrfan think it is important to give our children an education abroad, with reference to the film and his own sons, Babil and Ayan, in particular? One could picture him sitting across, frowning in concentration, as he mused, “Is it important? No. Is it crucial? No. It’s a very subjective thing… It depends on where your child’s passion lies. But it’s not imperative, for sure.”

He shared that his older son wanted to major in films and had got into the London (Film) School without his help. “Since it is Asif Kapadia’s (his The Warrior director) alma mater, I thought it will do Babil good. But if one is going (to study abroad) just because it’s cool, I think it’s a waste of time,” Irrfan pointed out with the practicality one has come to associate with him, saying his son will definitely like to come back. “He misses India very much. He is slogging hard and he is not a celebrity child in the institute abroad, which works for me,” he added.

It’s been over two years since we met, the last interaction being just before Hindi Medium and I wondered if he remembered ‘Roshomilla’, which is how he has always addressed me. “I cannot forget Roshomilla, but chances are I will call you rosogolla by mistake again because that’s what my Bengali wife (Sutapa Sikdar) is feeding me. Since I am unwell, whenever I have a sweet craving, she insists it’s healthy since rosogollas are made of chhena (ricotta cheese) and not mawa (dry milk),” he wrote back, and I could hear him guffaw across the miles separating us from him.

On the subject of Hindi Medium, he stated that the film had been accepted well as it struck a chord with the audience, more so with parents, some of whose dreams had died because they could not put their kids into their dream schools. “Our country does not pay for our education, it’s not free, so education from a good school is like a medal for most middle-class Indians and the admission process is traumatic,” Irrfan pointed out.

In the film, his Raj Batra, a nouveauriche boutique owner desperate to get his six-year-old daughter Pia into the school of his wife’s choice, takes the extreme step of moving with his family to a poorer neighbourhood to avail of the Right to Education (RTE) quota for the underprivileged. In response to my query of how much like Batra he is, Irrfan shared that for him personally, it doesn’t matter if someone is from Welhams or Stephens. “I sent my kids to an alternative school with hardly any facilities in the formative years. I have met hundreds of successful children from government schools, and very mediocre, highly nonstimulated children from private schools. So, essentially, it’s about the individual, the child. If someone has to bloom, they will,”

Irrfan asserted, going on to emphasise that as a person he would never do what Raj did in Hindi Medium. “But then, I am not him and he is not me. That’s the fun in acting! How to find the essence even if you are not the same. I am not as street-smart as the character, but I know people like him exist, so, I could relate to him.”

He went on to explain the process of getting into character, saying it’s enjoyable to be somebody who shares some of your thoughts and vice versa. “The character evolves from its relatability to the actor. Then, boom, it’s there, for the actor to follow,” he stated, adding that he is also not an extrovert, like Angrezi Medium’s Champak Bansal. “But I am a father and with that small essence, I went ahead. The character happened and was played by Irrfan.”

There are other ways in which the two films are different even though both take the discussion on education forward in a light-hearted way. “I had a wife (Saba Qamar) in Hindi Medium, so we were parents to our daughter Pia (Dishita Sehgal) while in Angrezi Medium I am a single parent, so it’s a bigger responsibility. And it’s special because one doesn’t want to f*** up in bringing up their child… You’re always scared of being judged by the departed partner. The child is not only your child, but also the memory of your wife. You want the best for your child, but at the same time, you don’t want to let her go away as she is your only surviving bond,” he reasoned, adding that the kids, Pia (Hindi Medium) and Tarika (Radhika Madan) are also in different age groups so pose a different set of problems. “Actually, in Hindi Medium the problem is more related to parents while in Angrezi Medium, the concern for the child is the bigger crisis. The most interesting part was that my character, Champak, wants to play the mother of the child in a patriarchal society. This has its own unique problems.”

It’s been almost two years since Irrfan left for treatment for neuroendocrine tumour. I wondered how he looked at life today and the people he was with, in particular his wife Sutapa and their sons. “It’s been a roller-coaster ride, a memorable one. Happy moments were underlined because of the inherent uncertainty. We cried a little and laughed a lot. We became one huge body,” he shared.

He went on to write that he has become less judgemental as a person because things have stopped mattering so much. “You screen out noises …You are selective about what you want to filter in. I have gone through tremendous anxiety but have somehow managed to control it, then, let go. You are playing hopscotch all the time,” Irrfan confided. However, the extraordinary situation, he admitted, has made his boys extraordinary in their own way. “And the best part is that I’ve had all the time literally to see them evolve… A crucial time for a teenager, like the younger one. The older one isn’t a teenager anymore.” One could see him smiling, the smile of a father, as he relayed this.

And his wife? “What to say about Sutapa? She is there 24/7. She has evolved in care-giving and if I get to live, I want to live for her. She is the reason for me to keep at it still,” he stated emotionally.

One had missed these introspective conversations with him and promises that the next time he is in Mumbai, one would drop by with the fish curry he had craved for once. “I wish we would one day have the fish curry and you would say ‘Bon Appetit.’ Amen to that.” Irrfan signed off.


Irrfan Khan with younger son Ayan; with wife Sutapa and elder son Babil (right)
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Irrfan describes his Angrezi Medium family

Radhika Madan (His daughter Tarika Bansal): A hard worker

Kareena Kapoor (Naina, an undercover cop in London): DIVA! I wish she does more roles to exploit her potential

Dimple Kapadia (Kareena’s mother): Nostalgia, warmth...

Deepak Dobriyal (His brother Ghasiteram Bansal): Jugalbandi


Director Homi Adajania: Outrageous fun!

Producer Dinesh Vijan: A rare learner

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MOMENTS & MEMORIES WITH IRRFAN

Without creation of a moment there is no story. Yet with so many stories, so many films, it’s very difficult to pinpoint a single one. But it’s the creation of these moments which drew me to acting...


THE WARRIOR (2001): There was this moment in the film where I was holding a sword, ready to kill a girl, when I look at her locket and a time-machine starts working for me… Something happens… I am in the desert, I have the sword in my hand, I drop it and in the blazing sunlight it has specks of snow… That for me was a great moment.


MAQBOOL (2003): The scene in the hospital where my character Maqbool watches Nimmi (Tabu) from outside. Since my face is against the glass, my sweat drips from it and it looks like the glass is crying. I will never forget the cue Vishal saab (director Vishal Bharadwaj) gave me for the scene, “Irrfan saab, iss shot mein daaku se Balmiki bante dekhna hai.”


THE NAMESAKE (2007): My character Ashoke Ganguli goes with his family to a beach. I walk with his son Gogol, down a thin strip of land, at the end of which there is only the ocean. And as we stand there, I realise that we have forgotten to bring the camera and tell my son, “Remember that we went to a place where there was nowhere left to go…” That was something special for me… I enjoy when a sentence is not contextual to that situation only.


PAAN SINGH TOMAR (2010): That moment when my character, Paan Singh, says, “Ee ka jawab kaun dego?” In the context of what had made him a dacoit—the situation which led him to be what he had become—it was not just a question but a passage of time. A summation of brutality, casteism etc… That was one moment I will always remember.

QISSA (2013): The scene where my character, a Sikh Punjabi named Umber Singh, is leaving his home during the Partition, with his wife and his three daughters. They break everything, poison the well, then, lock up the house and leave. That was writing excellence from (writer-director) Anup Singh.

Shoojit Sircar, who is currently shooting his first period film in St Petersburg, Russia, explains his choice of leading man and subject
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 30, 2019)

April 13, 1919, is a black day in Indian history. Under the orders of the acting Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer, Michael O’ Dwyer, the lieutenant governor of Punjab, instructed his troops to fire at a crowd which had peacefully assembled in Amritsar’s Jallianwala Bagh on Baisakhi to condemn the arrest and deportation of two leaders, Satya Pal and Saifuddin Kitchlew. According to the Indian National Congress, more than 1,500 were injured and over 1,000 people died. Many see this episode as the trigger for the Non-Cooperation Movement of 1920–22, the first step towards the end of British rule. Commemorating the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre in its centenary year, Shoojit Sircar has quietly kicked off his Udham Singh biopic with Vicky Kaushal in the titular role. The nationalist as part of the Ghadar Party, had mobilised Indians abroad to overthrow colonial rule. On his return, he was arrested for possession of unlicensed arms. Upon his release from prison, he escaped to Germany and then travelled to London. On March 13, 1940, he shot O’ Dwyer dead. He was convicted of murder and hanged at Pentonville Prison on July 31, 1940. The film showcases a significant contribution to the freedom struggle which has largely gone unnoticed. Shoojit started shooting in London, before moving to Russia. Speaking to Mirror from St Petersburg, the director reiterated that Udham Singh’s sacrifice is an important story for today’s audience. Excerpts:

This is a dream you’ve nurtured for years...
I heard the inspiring story when I was just out of college, doing theatre in Delhi. I came to Mumbai with the idea of making a film on it. I didn’t have the money or the courage or even a script. Now, with my writers Ritesh Shah and Shubhendu Bhattacharya, my friends Ronnie Lahiri and Sheel Kumar, and Vicky Kaushal, one of the most dynamic young actors today, and my years of experience, I want to bring this largely unknown revolutionary alive on screen. I’m both nervous and emotional.

Without his trademark beard and moustache was Vicky recognised on the busy streets of London as Major Vihaan Singh Shergill from Uri: The Surgical Strike?
He was recognised by the Indians there. The others liked his commitment. (Chuckles) I like that too, along with his dynamism and continued attempts to experiment with different roles like Masaan, a beautiful character and film. There’s a burning intensity and anger that I saw in his eyes during our first meeting itself, that convinced me he was the right man to play Udham.

He had an accident recently while shooting for his untitled horror film in Gujarat, when a door fell on him. He reportedly fractured his cheekbone. Did that hit your plans?
No, it didn’t affect us at all.

With Vicky stepping in for Irrfan Khan, did it necessitate any changes in the script?
None. The film is based on Udham Singh’s life, particularly one event which we had already researched. Since Vicky is from Punjab, a Sikh family, it’s a huge responsibility for him too.

Manoj Kumar once confided that when scripting his 1965 Shaheed on the sets of another film, his leading lady had asked him what he was writing. He’d told her he was writing about Bhagat Singh and asked her if she knew who he was. “Of course, he’s a daku,” she replied, and that day he decided he was going to make a film on the martyr so that no one would ever mistake him for a dacoit again. Did the Udham Singh biopic spark off similar reactions?
Well, a lot of people today know who Bhagat Singh is but not Udham Singh. Many have not even heard his name. But it’s thanks to people like him, that we live in independent India today. What they had to go through for us to enjoy this freedom is shocking and traumatic.

Have we made good use of this freedom?
That’s a subjective opinion and differs from individual to individual. It’s a huge country, and along with the good things, there are some problems too that we must deal with every day. It’s the same in a family too. No family is perfect and if we can hold a family together, why not a nation?

Are you a patriot?
I am, I love my India and tell my children that during vacations we should travel through the country and not abroad. Our history and traditions are among the oldest in the world. And despite so much diversity – different regions and languages, caste and creed, food and customs—we remain one. Any other country would have broken into parts by now.

How tough is it to recreate a bygone era?
Very difficult even during research as there’re few records available and those there are were speculative. This is my first period film and it’s hard to create that environment and these characters that are a part of our history.

What’s St Petersburg like?
Wonderful, the Russians love India... They love Raj Kapoor and Shashi Kapoor, Amitabh Bachchan and Mithun da (Chakraborty). If you want something you only sing “Jimmy Jimmy” from Disco Dancer.

Where else are you shooting?
The outskirts of London, parts of Ireland and Germany, and of course, India. We will be shooting for six-seven months, all through the year during different seasons. The film is scheduled for a 2020 release.

Finally, how does it feel to have Irrfan back on the sets, even if he is shooting for another film, Angrezi Medium?
Irrfan is a friend, I was constantly in touch with him through the last year and a half when he was undergoing treatment. And I remember, the first thing I did when he was leaving for London after learning that he had been diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumour was to assure him that he would back soon and do many more films. I was always optimistic and today, when I see him shooting, it feels so good, almost spiritual. I talk to him and his family every other day. We’ve bonded for life.

Irrfan couldn’t do Udham Singh because the film demands plenty of action. But do you see the two of you collaborating on another film in future?
We will definitely do a film together. We have already started scripting one with him in mind.

After a year-long hiatus, actor will kick off sequel of his 2017 comedy with Radhika Madan in Rajasthan
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 4, 2019)

On March 15 last year, Irrfan Khan revealed that he had been diagnosed with NeuroEndocrine Tumour and soon afterwards, flew to London for treatment. While he returned to India a few times after that, it was a picture of him exiting producer Dinesh Vijan’s suburban office on March 15 this year that sparked rumours of a comeback. Now, Mirror has learnt that Irrfan, who is presently in Rajasthan for a personal commitment, is all set to start shooting for Hindi Medium 2 next week in the state with Radhika Madan joining the cast as his daughter.

“Irrfan and Radhika started prep a while ago and are looking forward to kick off the first schedule in Rajasthan. It’s an important portion after which they will take off for the international schedule. It was initially planned to be set in the US but will now take place in London for which the team recently conducted a recce,” informs a source close to the development.

A day after he was spotted at the Mumbai airport, Irrfan announced his comeback with a note, thanking his well-wishers for their support. “Maybe somewhere in the pursuit of winning, we forget how much it means to be loved. In our vulnerability, we are reminded. As I leave my footprints onto these steps of my life, I want to pause to be grateful for receiving your immense love and support, it soothed me in my process of healing. So, I travel back to you, thanking you from the bottom of my heart,” the note read.

Reportedly, Kareena Kapoor has been roped in to play the leading lady and will join the cast after wrapping up Raj Mehta’s directorial debut, Good News. Mirror had earlier reported (February 19, 2018) that Homi Adajania is taking over the directorial reins of Hindi Medium 2 from Saket Chaudhary. Admitting that he had practically gate-crashed the narration of the sequel, Homi had said, “It’s been a while since I found any material so amusing yet emotional.”

Hindi Medium released in 2017 and revolved around a well-off Chandni Chowk couple (played by Irrfan and Saba Qamar) who aspire to break into the elite society and give their daughter the best education possible. The sleeper hit fetched Irrfan a Filmfare award for Best Actor at the 63 rd edition of the awards ceremony, where the film had snagged six nods in major categories, and also claimed Best Film trophy.

Marking his first trip to India since his illness, Irrfan Khan opts for low-key revelry at Nashik farmhouse
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; November 5, 2018)

Not too long ago, Irrfan Khan's spokesperson had announced that the actor is likely to come to India after Diwali. In a development that will bring much cheer to his fans, mid-day has learnt that Khan will apparently celebrate the festival of lights in the country. Marking his first trip to India since he was diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumour in March, he is expected in the bay by Wednesday.

A source close to the family reveals, "Irrfan and his family are planning to celebrate Diwali at their Nashik farmhouse. It will be a 10-day trip after which he will return to the UK for his ongoing treatment."

Recently, reports had suggested that he would return to face the camera with Shoojit Sircar's Udham Singh biopic. The source says that while Khan is on the road to recovery, it will be a while before he can honour his professional commitments. "He is yet to be given a clean chit by his doctors on whether he can start full-fledged work. The doctors are hopeful that he can return to the set by March. But he will have to follow the guidelines that his oncologists give him. The biopic will have to be divided into shorter schedules."

We texted Khan's wife Sutapa, but she didn't revert till the time of going to press.

MUMBAI MIRROR (October 25, 2018)

It came as a rude shock when Irrfan Khan in March revealed that he has been diagnosed with NeuroEndocrine Tumour and soon after moved to London for treatment.

He’s been off the radar for over six months now but that hasn’t stopped speculations about his comeback. However, refuting recent reports that he will be returning to work in December with the Hindi Medium sequel, the actor issued a statement saying there is a “possibility of him returning to India after Diwali”.

A source informed Mirror that Irrfan will be in the country for a brief vacation and will be retuning to UK to continue with his treatment. “There are no plans to start work on any project till the doctor gives him a complete clearance on his health,” the source added.

Mirror (September 1) had earlier reported that the actor who is responding well to the treatment is keen to return to the screen with Shoojit Sircar’s Udham Singh. He loves the script, is in regular touch with the Vicky Donor director and is looking forward to reuniting after the 2015 Piku.

“Irrfan is one of our finest artists and I want him to come back fully recovered and relive all his dreams. Meanwhile, I am completely ready with my prep for the film,” Shoojit had said.

DNA (September 9, 2018)

According to industry sources, Deepika Padukone has returned the signing amount to Vishal Bhardwaj that she was paid for his gangster flick with Irrfan. The film, which was reportedly called Sapna Didi, was put on the back burner after Irrfan was diagnosed with cancer. The actor is currently undergoing treatment for Neuroendocrine tumour in London. Buzz is that he’s responding well to treatment and will definitely resume his past commitments. However, there is no clarity on when that will happen.

Deepika, who is expected to marry Ranveer Singh in November, preferred to return the signing amount. She is said to have conveyed to Vishal that she would like to collaborate with him post Irrfan’s recovery.

The actor is hoping to get back in action with Shoojit Sircar’s next directorial, a biopic
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 1, 2018)

Mirror (May 26) had earlier reported that Irrfan Khan has given his nod to the titular role of the long-forgotten martyr in National Award-winning filmmaker Shoojit Sircar’s next directorial, the Udham Singh biopic, a year ago. However, the project was put on hold after the actor was diagnosed with NeuroEndocrine tumour in March. He has since been undergoing treatment in London. Now, Mirror has learnt that the actor who is still undergoing chemotherapy but responding well to treatment is keen to return to the screen with Udham Singh.

According to a source close to the development, Irrfan will first start shooting for Shoojit’s film after which will give dates to other projects. “He has really liked Shoojit’s script and is in regular touch with him. They are looking forward to reuniting after the successful Piku,” added the source.

When Mirror reached out to Shoojit he said, “I think now the focus is that the entire film fraternity is waiting for him to come back and restart. Irrfan is one of our finest artists and I want him to come back fully recovered and relive all his dreams. Meanwhile, I am completely ready with my prep for the film.”

While speaking to Mirror earlier Shoojit had said that he is determined to wait for his hero. This is the first film he wanted to make when he moved to Mumbai and has lived with the subject for years. “To relive Udham’s journey, I need a performance with finesse and depth which Irrfan is capable of. Also, he’s the only international actor we have today, and I discovered to my delight that independently he knows a lot about the history of Punjab. It’s easy working with an actor who’s interested and involved,” the filmmaker had said.

Rachit Gupta (BOMBAY TIMES; August 3, 2018)

Akarsh Khurana is having a busy 2018. His first feature film as director High Jack, with Sumeet Vyas, released a few months ago and his second film, Karwaan, featuring Irrfan, Dulquer Salmaan and Mithila Palkar releases today. He’s also a very popular face on the digital medium, where he writes, directs and acts with quite a lot of success. He’s written movies like Krrish (2006), U Me Aur Hum (2008), Kites (2010) and Krrish 3 (2013), while he’s also acted in Bejoy Nambiar’s David (2013) and Aditya Chopra’s Befikre (2016). Akarsh has also been heading a popular theatre company along with his family, for nearly two decades. With years of experience behind him, he’s now gearing up for a successful innings as a Bollywood filmmaker. Excerpts from a free-wheeling chat with the multi-faceted man.

You’ve had two back-to-back releases this year – High Jack (debut film) and now Karwaan. It looks like a busy year, especially for a first time filmmaker.
That was never the plan. I shot High Jack in May-June and Karwaan in September-October in 2017. Last year was a bit hectic. I’m just thankful that they haven’t released in the same month.

You must have been disheartened to see your debut film, High Jack not doing well at the box office.
It suffered from a very bad release. I don’t think a lot of people even knew that a film like that was playing in theatres. Bas woh aake nikal gayi, which is kind of sad because I still feel it’s a very enjoyable film and once it releases online, I’m sure it will find its audience.

Karwaan has an impressive ensemble cast. How did you manage to bring together stars from three different platforms – Irrfan (Bollywood), Dulquer Salmaan, (Malayalam star) and Mithila Palkar (internet sensation)?
Shubh Shivadasani, our associate producer suggested we take the film to Irrfan. Hum toh utna bada soch bhi nahi rahe the. Hamare liye toh Irrfan ke saath narration milna hi badi baat hai, unhone haan bol diya, woh toh sone pe suhaga tha. We met him when Hindi Medium was being shot. He was interested almost immediately. Once Irrfan said a ‘yes’, we went and locked Dulquer for the film. I’ve known Mithila before she became an internet sensation. I’ve known her for a long time, but I didn’t want to cast her just because I knew her. So we did an audition with her and then we did two months of auditions with other girls but Mithila’s audition was still the best one.

How did you zero in on Dulquer Salmaan?
Again, Shubh suggested Dulquer for the role. I had just seen one film of his – Charlie (2015). I couldn’t cast him on the basis of that one film, because his role in Charlie was very different from what I had imagined for the character in Karwaan. So I watched two more films and I realised he has an incredible range as an actor. When we met him for the first time we knew he was the perfect choice. Dulquer’s sensibilities as a person and as an artiste are special. He looks for these off-beat subjects and unique perspectives. His response to the project was, ‘If Irrfan is doing this film, then I am in safe hands.’

Sumeet Vyas, your lead in High Jack and Mithila Palkar, one of your leads in Karwaan, are both internet stars. You have been acting, writing and directing on the digital platform, too. Is there a pattern over there?
It’s a mere coincidence. When we were casting for the character of Tanya in Karwaan we looked at actresses from all walks of life and from all mediums. You know, that’s how the cookie crumbles. A new medium becomes popular and since we’ve all come up via the digital platform, our paths tend to intersect. I’m acting on the digital platform as well. Working with Sumeet and Mithila is like having a crossover; we’re all growing and exploring these opportunities together.

What was your reaction when you found out about Irrfan’s neuroendocrine tumour?
First, there were these rumours floating around and before that he’d seen the first cut of our film and he’d given his feedback and he was generally very happy about it. Then, once we got a confirmation of his illness, we were all just very shocked. Just a few months ago we were shooting with him. During the shoot he was perfect, he was travelling between to Chandigarh for some work. He was attending film screenings and everything was looking great. But once we got the details and the confirmation, it just jolted us. I mean, we spent 40-45 days working with him and that’s enough time on a film set to form an equation and an attachment with a person. I just hope he makes a full recovery soon and returns to the movies.

High Jack was a stoner comedy while Karwaan is a road movie. Do these offbeat subjects excite you as a storyteller?
I like real comedy and emotions. I like stories like Karwaan that are rooted in reality and a slice-of-life space. High Jack wasn’t too realistic, but it was still about people being in real world situations and things going wrong for them. Having worked on films like Krrish, Kites and Krrish 3, I have had a tryst with larger-than-life cinema, but it’s the small stories that resonate with me. Karwaan has a wonderful journey from Cochin to Bangalore and it puts these quirky characters in the most bizarre circumstances. They’re driving around with a dead body. That’s the sort of humour that works for me. That’s my voice as a filmmaker.

Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 23, 2018)

Irrfan Khan who has been away from the city for four months, undergoing treatment for neuroendocrine tumour, recently attended a screening of his upcoming film, Karwaan, in London. The screening was organised by the makers at the screening room in Henry Wood House, a business centre in London, for the actor who was eager to see the final cut.

Dialogue writer Hussain Dalal who was in London for another project wanted to meet Irrfan and was present at the screening. “He seemed happy to see me. His wife (Sutapa Sikdar) and some close friends were also present at the screening. After the film, we spoke about it. He had some minor suggestions for the team but overall, his family and he seemed pretty pleased,” informed Hussain, keen to work with the actor again.

Meanwhile, debutant director Akarsh Khurana informs that after the trailer came out, the actor was happy with the response it was getting, particularly all the love his character Shaukat had received. “He spoke to me at length after the screening in London and I was happy and relieved with his response and that of his family. Hussain who was also present for the screening told me about everyone’s reactions which were, thank God, rather favourable,” exults Akarsh.

He admits that Irrfan’s fans are curious to know how he is doing and if he will be a part of the promotions leading up to the film’s release on August 3. “At this point we don’t want to burden him with all this. His approval and blessings are with us, and that’s all that we need. He sounded good when we spoke and we’re all hoping that he bounces back from this challenging phase soon,” the director adds.

Sharing memories from the shoot, Akarsh smiles, “Honestly with Irrfan sir and Dulquer (Salmaan, Malayalam actor who will be making his Bollywood debut with the film) in the same frame, I often had to remind myself that I was the director and not a fan. The whole shoot felt like a working picnic.”

‘Uncertainty is the only certainty’, observes Irrfan, as he gives us a glimpse into his ongoing journey – from the shock of the diagnosis to the calmness of the realisation that ‘the cork doesn’t need to control the current it’s floating in’
As told to Anshul Chaturvedi (BOMBAY TIMES; June 19, 2018)

It’s been quite some time now since I have been diagnosed with a high-grade neuroendocrine cancer. This new name in my vocabulary, I got to know, was rare, and due to fewer study cases, and less information comparatively, the unpredictability of the treatment was more. I was part of a trial-and-error game.

I had been in a different game, I was travelling on a speedy train ride, had dreams, plans, aspirations, goals, was fully engaged in them. And suddenly someone taps on my shoulder and I turn to see. It’s the TC: “Your destination is about to come. Please get down.” I am confused: “No, no. My destination hasn’t come.” “No, this is it. This is how it is sometimes.”

The suddenness made me realise how you are just a cork floating in the ocean with UNPREDICTABLE currents! And you are desperately trying to control it.

In this chaos, shocked, afraid and in panic, while on one of the terrifying hospital visits, I blabber to my son, “The only thing I expect from ME is not to face this crisis in this present state. I desperately need my feet. Fear and panic should not overrule me and make me miserable.”

That was my INTENTION. AND THEN PAIN HIT. As if all this while, you were just getting to know pain, and now you know his nature and his intensity. Nothing was working; NO consolation, no motivation. The entire cosmos becomes one at that moment – just PAIN, and pain felt more enormous than GOD.

As I was entering the hospital, drained, exhausted, listless, I hardly realised my hospital was on the opposite side of Lord’s, the stadium. The Mecca of my childhood dream. Amidst the pain, I saw a poster of a smiling Vivian Richards. Nothing happened, as if that world didn’t ever belong to me.

This hospital also had a coma ward right above me. Once, while standing on the balcony of my hospital room, the peculiarity jolted me. Between the game of life and the game of death, there is just a road. On one side, a hospital, on the other, a stadium. As if one isn’t part of anything which might claim certainty – neither the hospital, nor the stadium. That hit me hard.

I was left with this immense effect of the enormous power and intelligence of the cosmos. The peculiarity of MY hospital’s location – it HIT me. The only thing certain was the uncertainty. All I could do was to realise my strength and play my game better.

This realisation made me submit, surrender and trust, irrespective of the outcome, irrespective of where this takes me, eight months from now, or four months from now, or two years. The concerns took a back seat and started to fade and kind of went out of my mindspace.

For the first time, I felt what 'freedom' truly means. It felt like an accomplishment. As if I was tasting life for the first time, the magical side of it. My confidence in the intelligence of the cosmos became absolute. I feel as if it has entered every cell of mine.

Time will tell if it stays, but that is how I feel as of now.

Throughout my journey, people have been wishing me well, praying for me, from all over the world. People I know, people I don’t even know. They were praying from different places, different time zones, and I feel all their prayers become ONE. One big force, like a force of current, which got inside me through the end of my spine and has germinated through the crown of my head.

It’s germinating – sometimes a bud, a leaf, a twig, a shoot. I keep relishing and looking at it. Each flower, each twig, each leaf which has come from the cumulative prayers, each fills me with wonder, happiness and curiosity.

A realisation that the cork doesn’t need to control the current. That you are being gently rocked in the cradle of nature.

Meena Iyer (DNA; April 6, 2018)

On Thursday, when Salman Khan was given a five-year jail term in the blackbuck poaching case, a pall of gloom descended over Bollywood. The superstar, on whom mega bucks are riding, has almost been a parallel industry by himself in the last few years. His movies, starting with Wanted (2009), have been making more money collectively than those of many of his contemporaries. And he has been the film industry’s lifeline, so to speak.  Many kitchen fires have been kept burning from this one-man industry (check box for Salman’s films).

Three years ago, when he was acquitted in the hit-and-run case that happened in Bandra, Mumbai, a distributor had said, “When prayers go up in unison, even God listens.” Yesterday, the same distributor asked, “What’s the matter? Isn’t God listening?” A star son, who is close to Salman, said, “The news of Salman sir being indicted in the blackbuck case has not sunk in. I’m hoping this is a bad dream and it will go away.”

And even while a distraught industry tried hard to come to terms with the news, others pointed out what a nightmare the last three months have been.

On February 24, the industry lost Sridevi. As if that wasn’t bad enough, March 5 brought the news of Irrfan’s fight with a rare disease. The actor, who is actually at the peak of his career, was diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumour and is currently undergoing treatment in the UK. His movie with Vishal Bhardwaj has been put on hold indefinitely.

And now, to add insult to injury, Salman will end up being incarcerated in a case that has gone on for 20 long years. Honestly, on the one hand, the industry receives bountiful and on the other, its favourite children are under a black magic spell. Kisi ki buri nazar lag gayi hai.

Salman Khan's films

Tiger Zinda Hai (2017) Rs 339 Cr

Tubelight (2017) Rs114.57 Cr

Sultan (2016) Rs 300.67 Cr

Prem Ratan Dhan Payo (2015) Rs 194.30 Cr

Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015) Rs 315.49 Cr

Kick (2014) Rs 211.63 Cr

Jai Ho (2014) Rs 109.35 Cr

Dabangg 2 (2012) Rs 149.52 Cr

Ek Tha Tiger (2012) Rs186.84 Cr

Bodyguard (2011) Rs 144.78 Cr

Ready (2011) Rs 120.72 Cr

Dabangg (2010) Rs 141.24 Cr

Upala KBR (MID-DAY; March 22, 2018)

Irrfan Khan’s Blackmail will have Urmila Matondkar returning to the big screen with the dance number, Bewafa Beauty. While the song releases tomorrow, what many don’t know is that it was initially scheduled to be launched on March 16. midday has learnt that in a heartwarming gesture for Khan, the makers decided to postpone the song’s release and launch Badla, a song featuring the actor, instead.

Says a source, “Abhinay Deo [director] and Bhushan Kumar [producer] changed their plans to accommodate Irrfan’s song. Since Badla is Irrfan’s favourite song, they wanted to launch it before he left for London for his medical treatment.” Confirming the news, Deo says, “It was a unanimous decision to unveil Badla first.”

The song, which sees Matondkar on screen after seven years, features the actor dancing in a bar while Khan’s character opens up to his friend about his cheating wife. “While the screenplay initially did not have a song, we thought it’d be interesting to have a song narrate the irony of the character. Bewafa Beauty takes the story forward.”

Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; March 17, 2018)

The recent news about Irrfan Khan’s health issue has sent shock waves in the industry. The actor, whose family has asked people not to heed to speculations, has three films lined up and has taken time off to recuperate.

Filmmakers are standing by him at this crucial hour. Says a source, “Irrfan was excited to launch the Blackmail trailer but luck had its own way. The makers had planned to have a big event to unveil the trailer but unfortunately, his illness came to the fore and that didn’t happen.”

Abhinay Deo, director of Blackmail, states, “Irrfan wants the show to go on. We had met him at his home after we heard about his health. He was clear that he wanted the film to release as per schedule. So, it’s opening in cinemas on April 6, according to the original plan. We want him to get fit soon and hope he will watch the film with us.” Producer Prernaa Arora has already announced her pet project, which stars Irrfan and Deepika Padukone and will be directed by Vishal Bhardwaj. The gangster drama was initially pushed ahead after the filmmaker heard that the National Award winner was down with jaundice and Deepika was suffering from back pain. Now, it’s put on the back burner. Prernaa tells us, “Irrfan is an exceptional actor. Nothing except his health matters now.”

Another film that is in the pipeline is Akarsh Khurana’s Karwaan. The debutant director says, “Ronnie Screwvala, my producer, has been in touch with Irrfan. We are proceeding with his knowledge and approval and releasing the movie on June 1.”

Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; March 17, 2018)

Even though Irrfan Khan had urged fans to not speculate about his “rare disease”, social media went into a frenzy soon after the actor revealed that he needed medical attention. Rumour mills were abuzz with news that Khan was battling liver cancer or brain tumour, but the actor put suggestions to rest yesterday by revealing that he was suffering from a neuroendocrine tumour.

Khan’s condition had kept him away from the promotions of his upcoming thriller, Blackmail. However, director Abhinay Deo, who met the actor after he spoke about his condition, says Khan wants the film to release as per schedule. “Irrfan saw the movie a month ago, and loved the final edit. We had considered deferring the release, and spoke to him about it, but Irrfan doesn’t want us to do so. He said the film should release as initially planned, and should not suffer because of his absence,” Deo says, adding that the decision to launch the track, Badla, yesterday, was also taken after his meeting with the actor. Even as he undergoes treatment, Deo says Khan is in “good spirits”. “He’s away [from India] for treatment. We should respect the family’s privacy. We pray that he join us in watching the film on April 6."

MUMBAI MIRROR (March 17, 2018)

Ten days after he took to the social media to share the news of a mystery illness and urged everyone to refrain from speculating till the diagnosis was in, Irrfan Khan has revealed that he has a neuroendocrine tumour.

“The unexpected makes up grow, which is what the past few days have been about. Learning that I have been diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumour as of now has admittedly been difficult, but the love and strength of those around me and that I found within me has brought me to a place of hope. The journey of this is taking me out of the country, and I request everyone to continue sending their wishes. As for the rumours that were floated NEURO is not always about the brain and googling is the easiest way to do research... To those who waited for my words, I hope to be back with more stories to tell,” informed the 51-year-old actor on Twitter on Friday, starting out with a quote from American author-journalist Margaret Mitchell, “Life is under no obligation to give us what we expect.”

The rare disease reportedly affects the body’s hormonal messaging system and studies suggest it afflicts just 35 in 100,000 people. Health experts say neuroendocrine tumours can develop in many different organs of the body and can be cancerous or non-cancerous.