Depending on how the words are being used, they have the power to crush or lift the spirits of a person. After Manisha Koirala, Yuvraj Singh, Sonali Bendre, Rishi Kapoor, Rakesh Roshan, Tahira Kashyap and Irrfan Khan have inspired millions with their words and had spread awareness about their battle with cancer. And to quote Neetu Kapoor, "Hope in future cancer is only a zodiac sign", the aforementioned names had fought and survived the Big C and have proved that when life knocks us down in the most unexpected ways, we have to get up smiling and stronger than ever. (Also Read: Sussanne Khan Leaves Heart Emoticons On Ex-Husband Hrithik Roshan's Fiery Selfie)
Just like we look up to the B-town celebrities for fashion inspiration, we also look up to them in such situations too and they show us how to embrace the illness with positivity. It was in 2018 when Irrfan Khan was diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumour and it has been 2 years now since we have seen him on the silver screen. And in these two years, it was his wife, Sutapa Sikdar, who had proved to be a pillar of strength for her husband and gave him the courage to fight the battle.
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In an interview with the Mumbai Mirror, Irrfan Khan revealed how his wife, Sutapa Sikdar fulfils his sweet cravings in a healthy way. He has shared, “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).” Acknowledging his wife to be there for him 24x7 and revealing that he wants to live for her, Irrfan continued, “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.”
Irrfan Khan further shared that he has become less judgmental as a person because things have stopped mattering so much. Speaking about the journey filled with happy and sad moments, Irrfan stated, “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. 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.” (Also Read: New Leaked Video From Brahmastra Captures Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor's Sizzling Chemistry)
And how it made his boys, Babil and Ayan extraordinary in their own way, Irrfan remarked, “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.” Irrfan will next be seen in Angrezi Medium, in which his on-screen daughter aspires to go to abroad for higher studies. When asked if he thinks it is important to give children education abroad, with reference to the film and his own sons, Babil and Ayan, in particular, Irrfan retorted, “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.”
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Sharing that his older son wanted to pursue major in films and had got into the London (Film) School without his help, the proud father said, “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. He misses India very much. He is slogging hard and he is not a celebrity child in the institute abroad, which works for me.”
After battling the illness, Irrfan Khan had returned to Mumbai in mid-March 2019 and his wife, Sutapa Sikdar had penned down a heartfelt letter about the ‘longest year’ of their lives. Thanking her husband’s fans, friends and family, who have been praying for his recovery, Sutapa had written, “Longest year of our life. Time was never measured with pain and hope at the same time ever. While we take our babysteps back to work, to life I am submerged in prayers wishes and faith from friends relatives strangers and a connection with universe which gives us a small chance for this new start.”
Sutapa Sikdar’s note had further stated, “It seems unbelievable …never ever I realized the meaning of the word unpredictable so well…never ever I could feel peoples wishes on my bones my breath my heartbeat which helped me to stay focused and kicking.. I can’t take names because there are names and there are names I don’t even know who played angels. Sorry for not been able to answer individually but I know what you mean to us. I don’t see beyond one day and that day is today where everything seems fine. For today we go back to work, and the dance and song of life continues. Thank you for believing in your prayers.” (Also Read: Raveena Tandon's 'Me And Mine' Photos With Hubby Anil Thadani Depict What 'Prem Kahanis Are Made Of')
Are you excited for Irrfan’s film, Angrezi Medium?
