'We lost one of those rare gems' - From Tendulkar to Sehwag, sports fraternity mourn Irrfan Khan's death

The world of cinema lost one of its truest gems in Irrfan Khan on Wednesday as the 53-year-old lost his battle to cancer in Mumbai’s Kokilaben Hospital after getting admitted on Tuesday. Irrfan was reportedly admitted in the ICU due to a colon infection. As soon as the devastating news was broken on Wednesday noon, social media erupted as people paid tribute to Irrfan and his glorious career.

From the sports fraternity, the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Ravichandran Ashwin, Suresh Raina, Gautam Gambhir, Anil Kumble, Mohammed Kaif, Indian Football Team, Vijender Singh, among others, paid tribute to Irrfan following the news of his demise.

“Sad to hear the news of #IrrfanKhan passing away. He was one of my favorites & I’ve watched almost all his films, the last one being Angrezi Medium. Acting came so effortlessly to him, he was just terrific. May his soul Rest In Peace. Condolences to his loved ones,” Tendulkar tweeted.

“RIP #IrrfanKhan,” Ashwin added. Former India cricketer and current BJP MP Gautam Gambhir also expressed his condolences. “There are actors who have the ability to move you with every performance, irrespective of role or medium! Irrfan Khan was one of those rare gems! Indispensable. He went too soon! RIP,” he wrote.

Indian Football Team further posted a heartwarming tribute. “We mourn the untimely loss of #IrrfanKhan, who touched one and all with his beautiful performances on screen. RIP.”

An official statement released by his family said, "I trust, I have surrendered”; These were the some of the many words that Irrfan expressed in a heartfelt note he wrote in 2018 opening up about his fight with cancer. And a man of few words and an actor of silent expressions with his deep eyes and his memorable actions on screen. It’s saddening that this day, we have to bring forward the news of him passing away.

“Irrfan was a strong soul, someone who fought till the very end and always inspired everyone who came close to him. After having been struck by lightning in 2018 with the news of a rare cancer, he took life soon after as it came and he fought the many battles that came with it. Surrounded by his love, his family for whom he most cared about, he left for heaven abode, leaving behind truly a legacy of his own. We all pray and hope that he is at peace. And to resonate and part with his words he had said, “As if I was tasting life for the first time, the magical side of it”.

Irrfan had taken a break from acting in 2018 when he was first diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumour. He returned to India in 2019 to work in'Angrezi Medium' which released earlier this year. Irrfan is survived by his wife Sutapa Sikdar, and two sons Babil and Ayan.