Dear Irfan,
I know that you were against the idea of idolizing actors and sportspeople and calling them heroes. So I’d like to apologize in advance because I’m just about to call you my hero.
As a kid obsessed with Hindi cinema, watching your films for me used to be a gateway into a world that I was otherwise unfamiliar with. And as I grew up, and cinema became more than just entertainment for me, you became the man who redefined the world of movies and the art of acting for me. Right from the school plays through the college theatre days, I remember going home and watching your films to learn everything there was to learn about acting. From ‘Maqbool’, ‘The Namesake’, to ‘Paan Singh Tomar’, ‘Life of Pi’ & ‘Piku’, your films have taught me countless lessons and consistently inspired me to be a better man. Your films have played a huge part in making me realize the power of cinema in changing people’s lives, which eventually led me to create this page as well. I call you my hero, because if that’s not what a hero looks like, then I don’t know what is.
I’m not sure if writing a letter to you this way is the correct thing to do, but I really don’t know how else to express the grief I’m feeling today. I never had the honor to meet you in person, but your loss still feels as personal as humanly possible. I guess you don’t have to meet some people to love them or be inspired by them. They reach out to you with their art, their work, their legacy, and most importantly, their kindness and warmth. And you, sir, are that person for all of us.
One of the biggest wishes in my life was to get to work with you someday. I always dreamt of a day when I would just sit with you in a room and talk about films. Talk about how you changed Indian cinema forever by taking us to the world map. Talk about how you redefined the idea of acting for every cinephile in India. Or talk about the fact that your opening shot in ‘Haider’ is possibly the best of any character in Hindi cinema.
But now, it pains me to think that I didn’t even get a chance to thank you for everything I’ve learned from you. I guess it’s true, what hurts the most is not taking a moment to say goodbye.
Your comic timing was appreciable,
With that sense of humor, our minds blew.
Our ‘Paan Singh Tomar’ left us,
A person who deserved a ‘Thankyou’.
‘7 Khoon Maaf’, ‘Saheb biwi aur gangster returns’,
And the amazing ‘D-day’.
No matter where ever you are,
We are going to love you anyway.
Your name was itself enough,
A truly self-made man.
‘The lunchbox’ is empty now,
Every heart is your fan.
‘Slumdog millionaire’, ‘Life in a metro’,
Your skills will always be admired.
We love our ‘Billu’ till the end,
No more words are required.
‘Raj batra’ of ‘Hindi medium’,
And ‘Rana Chaudhary’ of ‘Piku’.
That voice is replaying in our heads,
People like you are very few.
The one who was always devoted,
Our ‘Champak bansal’ of ‘Angrezi medium’.
Bollywood has lost its hero,
A package of talent wholesome.
You are immortal in the cine ‘Karwaan’.
This nation is going to miss you,
‘A legend named Irfan’.
You are the epitome of modern cinema, the brightest sunshine of Bollywood, the example of modesty and humbleness, the definition of humanity, and the spelling of acting.
I’ve grown up, living with you, all the characters you breathed life into, like a painting taking the form of reality. You made me relive energy, with Pan Singh Tomar, you made me realize society with Madaari, you made me remember the astonishment of life with Life of Pie, you made me respect my father with Angrezi Medium, you made me recover my will with your battle against cancer and you made me recreate myself with all your smiling grace and honestly.
I was numbed and petrified when I read the scrolling with your photos as a remembrance, and the piece of bread in my mouth couldn’t slip down my throat.
I have cried as your eyes moistened. I have smiled with your comic snippets, but, it breaks my heart to know I’ll have to do all of it, alone, without you.
If Indian Cinema had a dictionary of existence, it’s incomplete without your sir. You will live, till the last person lives, who have watched you on screen. In memories, in hearts, in visions, in lives, you’ll forever stay. I wish your goodbye didn’t arrive at my doorstep this soon sir.
But then as you say,
“I suppose in the end, the whole life becomes an act of letting go, but what always hurts the most is not taking a moment to say GOODBYE”
So here is all my love, heart, mind, and soul for you, cheering a loud GoodBye at the windows of your heart. May you find the brightest place in heaven as you have found in our hearts.
Happy Birthday Irfan ❤️
Love, Victor
