Irrfan Khan’s most memorable quotes on his life, career

As the world grapples with the loss of Indian icon Irrfan Khan and struggles to gain closure, we look back at some of the most memorable quotes from his interviews with Gulf News.

Khan, who died in Mumbai on April 29, was what we call a journalist’s delight. He always had an interesting take on global issues and never held back. In an exclusive interview in March this year, Khan had spoken about his illness and the fatalistic, romantic Bollywood song that kept playing in his head about embracing life. He answered questions earnestly.

As we learn the news about his low-profile, muted burial in the times of coronavirus outbreak in Mumbai, Gulf News re-visits its interviews with this incredible talent.

The cinematic release of his last film ‘Angrezi Medium’ may have been cut short on account of the pandemic, but his interview with us conducted just before his sudden demise after battling neuroendocrine cancer will live in our memories for a long time. While Hindi cinema may never fill the void that he has left in the acting world, here’s a look at his most memorable quotes gleaned from his interviews with us:

“I tell life: ‘Lag Jaa Gale Ki Phir Yeh Haseen Shaam Ho Naa Ho, Shayad Is Janam Mein Mulaqaat Ho Na Ho’ [Embrace and hug me life, for your never know if we will ever have this magical evening like this or not, Perhaps we may meet or never meet again in my lifetime],” said Khan, when asked about his state of mind in March 2020, a month before his death prior to the release of ‘Angrezi Medium’.

“My health issues came out of nowhere. Yes, I took a break and yes I am hopeful to come back,” said Khan, also during the March 2020 interview with Gulf News.

“Let people meet and interact and understand the significance of a woman’s role. You are not complete without a woman’s role and that needs to be understood by a man. You cannot compare two genders and say that you are the weaker one or you the stronger one. Each gender has their own specialty and magic,” Khan at the Dubai International Film Festival in December 2017.

“I got ready early so that I could spend more time talking to you all on the red carpet,” said Khan in October 2013 at Abu Dhabi Film Festival.

“When we got freedom [in 1947 in India] we had great filmmakers with their own unique style. They had their own voice. Today I don’t see that,” said Khan at the now-defunct Abu Dhabi Film Festival in 2013.