When Irrfan Khan surprised his family by choosing to fast on Mondays, saying " Shivji ka din hota hai"

Irrfan Khan's faith on Lord Shiva

Fans all throughout the nation were deeply saddened by the tragic death of celebrated actor Irrfan Khan in 2020.

The loss had a profoundly personal impact on his wife, Sutapa Sikdar, who is a writer and producer. Speaking poignantly about Irrfan's distinct viewpoint on faith, religion, and spirituality in a previous interview with The Times of India, Sutapa provided uncommon insights into the actor's inner life.

Sutapa recalled how, despite not being a Muslim herself, she observed fasts — a practice she attributed to the values Irrfan instilled in her. “He had taught me that one didn’t have to convert to be a Muslim, to keep rozas, or to converse with Allah,” she explained. His understanding of faith was inclusive and personal, transcending traditional rituals and institutional boundaries.

Even though he was unable to fast in his later years due to health concerns, Irrfan maintained his spirituality. Sutapa revealed that he frequently declared his intention to fast, even embracing nonreligious customs.

“Irrfan couldn’t fast, though he desperately wanted to during the last two years. He would say, ki ek din hafte mein main fasting karunga hi. And he shocked his relatives by saying, ‘Maine soch liya hai ki main somvaar ka fast karunga, Shivji ka din hota hai,’” she recounted. His spiritual path was unorthodox, deeply personal, and constantly evolving.

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Reflecting on his introspective nature, Sutapa described how Irrfan immersed himself in literature and philosophical texts. “He was on a journey of discovery — of himself, of this world, and of greater things beyond it, perhaps even a parallel reality... That was his only reality — he did not believe in anything else,” she said. “Religion for him was spirituality... Osho, Mahavira — he read everything,” she added.

After getting married in 1995, Irrfan and Sutapa welcomed their son, Babil Khan, into the world in 1998. In 2022, Babil made his acting debut in the film Qala, continuing his father's artistic legacy of depth, curiosity, and poignant storytelling.