Shoojit Sircar recalls his friendship with Irrfan Khan: "I miss him in every film I make now"

Shoojit Sircar recently shared heartfelt memories of his deep bond with the late actor Irrfan Khan, reflecting on their relationship both professionally and personally. In an emotional conversation on a podcast, Sircar revealed how their friendship strengthened during Irrfan's battle with cancer.

He spoke about the actor's courage and the meaningful moments they shared during that challenging period and said, " “When Irrfan got diagnosed, I was able to relate to him in a very personal way,” Sircar said. “Having seen my own father go through a similar ordeal, I understood the pain and the inner battles he was facing. During his treatment, Irrfan and I became much closer; we would talk for hours on the phone. Sometimes, I wouldn’t even know what to say because he’d dive into deep topics—spirituality, life, magic, cinema… all kinds of things.”

He further said, "He added, “I think Irrfan was torn between different options—whether to go for chemo or consider alternate therapies. I sometimes wonder if I had advised him to try something else, maybe he would have lived a little longer. He was already in the final stages when he started his treatment. He was fighting hard, but I think there was always a part of him that wanted to explore other ways."

Shoojit Sircar reminisced about the quiet, reflective moments he shared with the late Irrfan Khan, particularly their time spent meditating together. “There were days when I would go over to his house and we’d do breathing exercises together. I’d say, 'Irrfan, today let’s meditate,' and he’d always say 'yes' with a smile. He was such a genuine person, a true friend, someone you rarely meet in this industry," he added.