The Journey of Life Comes Full Circle for Irrfan Khan

A bijou gypsy van, three lost souls, and two dead bodies. Revolving around unusual misfits together on a road trip, owing to the irony of fate, the 2018 film Karwaan, starring Irrfan Khan, Dulquer Salmaan and Mithila Palkar, displays how life comes full circle for everyone. Mapping not just geographical distances across streets, but also undertaking a contentious road trip, the three characters become each other&rsquos anchors. Drawing little anecdotes from life itself, Akarsh Khurana&rsquos directorial debut revolves around the stumbling blocks one faces through various walks of life. 

A despondent Avinash (Dulquer), a disconcerted Tanya (Mithila) and viewing glass as half-empty, half-full, Shaukat (Irrfan), set on the road trip that none of them anticipated would bring them face-to-face with their dilemmas. A trip that none of the protagonists wanted to undertake, but endured owing to the light-hearted comedy of Irrfan&rsquos character. His character in the film brings to the screen hope and perseverance. 

Irrfan Khan, who over the years has brought myriad characters to life onscreen, breathed his last today morning. The actor, 53, was admitted to Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani hospital in Mumbai where his lost the battle of life. 

Khan, not traditionally from the industry, was born in Tonk, near Rajasthan, went to the National School of Drama in 1984 and started his career in 1988, with Mira Nair&rsquos Salaam Bombay. The two collaborated again in 2006, for Khan's critically acclaimed role in Nair&rsquos The Namesake. His career spanned over three decades, where he not only acted in Hindi movies, but also left an indelible mark in cinema abroad with his work, including the likes of The Warrior (2001), The Amazing Spider-Man (2012), Life of Pi (2012) and Inferno (2016).

A man of not words, but expressions, Khan will be remembered for his non-conventional roles. He was well-recognised not just for his contribution to Indian cinema, but in the West as well.&nbspIrrfan Khan was diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumour in 2018 and had opened up to his fans about it. He is survived by wife Sutapa Sikdar, and sons Babil and Ayan. A statement on the family&rsquos behalf read

&ldquo&lsquoI trust, I have surrendered,&rsquo These were some of the many words that Irrfan expressed in a heart felt note he wrote in 2018 opening up about his fight with cancer. And a man of few words and an actor of silent expressions with his deep eyes and his memorable actions on screen. It&rsquos 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. 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, &lsquoAs if I was tasting life for the first time, the magical side of it&rsquo.&rdquo

Etched in the memory of his fans, co-workers and family, he has been laid to rest at Mumbai&rsquos Versova Kabristan.