Sutapa Sikdar plans to write a book on her and Irrfan’s journey: ‘People take him as serious, intimidating kind of a person but…’

Late actor Irrfan Khan's wife Sutapa Sikdar said whenever she will write a book on her husband, she wouldn't 'want it to be a sentimental journey'.

Irrfan Khan and Sutapa Sikdar got married in 1995. (Photo: Babil Khan/Instagram)

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Irrfan Khan’s wife, writer Sutapa Sikdar, on Saturday, said she wishes to pen a book exploring the funny side of the late actor’s personality. She was speaking on the sidelines of the launch of a new book on Irrfan by Indian Express film critic Shubhra Gupta.

With a career spanning over three decades, Irrfan was known for his performances in Maqbool, The Namesake, Paan Singh Tomar, Haider, Piku and The Lunchbox. He died from a rare form of cancer at the age of 54 in April 2020. Sutapa said whenever she will write the book, she wouldn’t “want it to be a sentimental journey”.

“I want it to be a funny journey, which I shared with him. People take him as a very intimidating and very serious kind of person but he was not in real life. The book is not ready at all (but it will be ready) sometime,” Sutapa said.

Also read | Irrfan Khan: The romantic hero who never fell in ‘love at first sight’ and gave new meaning to ‘happily-ever-after’

Titled “Irrfan Khan: A Life in Movies”, the book offers a compelling account of his life and achievements — starting from his days at the National School of Drama to his nearly decade-long stint in television and his gradual ascent in the film industry.

The book, published by Pan Macmillan India, engages key people, including Sutapa, directors Mira Nair, Vishal Bhardwaj and Anurag Basu in conversation on the iconic actor’s art, craft and legacy.

For Irrfan, regarded as one of the finest actors of contemporary Indian cinema, the intention behind telling a story mattered the most, Sutapa said.

Also read | When Irrfan Khan said that Bollywood ‘enjoys demonising’ him because of his ‘devilish looks’

“He was not a practising Muslim but one word he strongly caught in Islam was ‘niyat’. So ‘niyat’ was so strong in his personality and in life. Like, what is our intention in telling the story? It has to be transparent and honest, and that was foremost for him.

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“In a film script, (the story) can’t be preachy. It has to be entertaining, people must get entertained but at the same time, the intention should be there,” she added.

(With inputs from PTI)

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