Directors Mira Nair, Ritesh Batra, Colin Trevorrow and Ava Duvernay and actors Kal Penn, Mindy Kaling and Freida Pinto led Hollywood in paying tribute to actor Irrfan Khan who died in Mumbai on Wednesday. He was 53.
Batra, who directed Khan in The Lunchbox, said “the light in our lives is gone”.
The light in our lives is gone, and everything feels dimmer without Irrfan. Thank you @irrfank, for your big heart and your friendship. I hope that there is another side, and we will meet there again someday.
— riteshbatra (@riteshbatra) April 29, 2020
Freida Pinto, who worked with Khan in Slumdog Millionaire. wrote: “A VOID that can NEVER be filled because there was simply no one like Irrfan Khan. His grace and dignity along with his monumental talent as an artist, actor – a portrayer of humanity in all it’s shapes and forms made me not only have deep admiration for him but I instinctively wanted to emulate that grace in my career as well.”
Actor Kal Penn who worked with Khan in Mira Nair’s The Namesake said “Irrfan’s art and humanity will be badly missed.”
Irrfan’s art and humanity will be badly missed. Never seen someone use the beats of silence so beautifully to convey so much about who we are. Sending love to Sutapa and the family. pic.twitter.com/L3NN1wuz6H
— Kal Penn (@kalpenn) April 29, 2020
Director Mira Nair told Divya Unny for Open Magazine:
“I remember this scrawny young boy auditioning for me during Salaam Bombay (1988). He was unassuming, almost unaware of the fact that he was performing. He had this unique ability to just embody the environment he was part of, so much so that you would not notice him on set, unless you were really looking for him.
When I had to edit out a few of his scenes from Salaam Bombay, I walked up to him and said that I was sorry. He had tears in his eyes, it was his first big break and it seemed like it wasn’t going to materialize.
When the film was out, he called me and cried once again, and this time it was out of joy. We did The Namesake after that, and I will never ever forget the moments I spent with him. He made me and my stories better, and there will be nobody like him.”
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which awards the Oscars, called Khan an “incredible talent”.
A mainstay of Bollywood cinema and incredible talent in films like “Slumdog Millionaire,” “Life of Pi” and “The Namesake,” Irrfan Khan left his imprint on global cinema. An inspiration to millions, he will be greatly missed. pic.twitter.com/o21DMMC2o5
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) April 29, 2020
Colin Trevorrow who worked with Khan in Jurassic World recalled the last correspondence he had with the actor.
