Beloved International Actor Irrfan Khan Dies Unexpectedly at Age 53

By N. Jamiyla Chisholm Apr 29, 2020

Beloved International Actor Irrfan Khan Dies Unexpectedly at Age 53

Bollywood giant Irrfan Khan, who gave the world wonderful performances in award-winning films like "Slumdog Millionaire" (2008), "Life of Pi" (2012) and “The Lunchbox” (2013), died Wednesday, April 29, at age 53, CNN confirmed. The actor had gone into the hospital in Mumbai earlier this week for a colon infection, according to The Hollywood Reporter, and had battled a rare form of cancer since 2018.

"It’s saddening that this day, we have to bring forward the news of him passing away," Khan’s PR agency, Hardly Anonymous Communications, said in a statement to CNN. "Irrfan was a strong soul, someone who fought till the very end and always inspired everyone who came close to him."

Khan, who played cricket in his early 20s before studying acting, was acutely aware of the huge role he played for millions of Indian fans around the world. “The audiences feel proud when they see me working with Tom Hanks or in ‘Jurassic World’,” Khan told The Independent in 2016. “They have a sense of identity in the international market. I still remember when we did ‘Slumdog Millionaire’. I went to L.A. for the Oscar ceremony and I met this guy who was living there for 30 years and he said, ‘After this film somehow, people are recognizing me and giving me value’ and he was crying. So that’s what it does. It makes them feel, ‘We exist’.”

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

Below, fans and film colleagues mourn Khan’s unexpected passing on social media:

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ArchiveArts & CultureDiesIrrfan KhanSlumdog Millionaire