Fardeen Khan recently opened up about his personal life, struggles, and career like never before. The actor who appeared in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s web series Heeramandi this year also spoke about his late father and legendary actor Feroz Khan. Sharing his father’s battle with cancer, Fardeen revealed, “My father was a tiger and lived like one. He had this larger-than-life persona, and it wasn’t just for the outside world, he lived a grand life at home too. So it was very difficult to see him unwell and vulnerable.” Fardeen’s father was considered a style icon in his time. When asked about his prized possession from Feroz’s wardrobe, Fardeen told GQ, “His closet is exactly how he left it when he passed 15 years ago.” He said he has preserved every item, from shoes and belts to socks, hats, and bathrobes, as they were, confessing that he hasn’t been able to bring himself to move or alter anything. Fardeem shared he’s contemplating an idea to honour his father’s legacy, hinting at a special tribute for fans. This practice of holding onto a loved one’s belongings can serve as a powerful way to maintain a connection and keep their memory alive. For many, keepsakes are not just physical objects but symbols of cherished memories and emotional bonds. However, it also raises questions about grief, the attachment to these belongings, and how people use keepsakes to cope with loss. How it helps Sonal Khangarot, licensed rehabilitation counsellor and psychotherapist, The Answer Room, tells indianexpress.com, “Bereavement is deeply personal, and everyone navigates their grief in unique ways, finding solace through different paths that honour both their loss and journey of healing is essential.” She continues, “Initial stages of grief include a feeling of shock and not being able to physically or tangibly connect to the person one has lost. Holding onto their belonging provides a tangible connection to the past.” Khangarot explains that the sensory experience of touching, smelling or being able to see these items evoke a feeling of comfort and continuity. “It makes one feel the presence of an individual they have lost.” “Psychologically keeping hold of belongings helps bridge the gap or fill the void of absence that the demise has left on an individual and helps smoothen the journey of bereavement,” she mentions. When is it considered unhealthy? Khangarot asserts, “Holding on to the belonging to cope and navigate a life without the loved one is healthy but when it starts to obstruct one’s reality and they aren’t able to get past the loss; when the attachment to these possessions become so strong that it prevents one to adapt to a life without the loved one, then that is something alarming.” When holding onto belongings as a replacement of engaging with reality, it can turn into resisting change and refusing to process the loss. This can hinder the natural grieving process and impact an individual’s mental health and of those around them. Khangarot shares that a lot of times an individual has a heightened guilt that if a person forgets about the memories they would do injustice to the one they have lost. “Finding balance in grief is understanding that moving forward does not mean forgetting. The relationship has taken a new form and they can use the words of wisdom, life experience and shared memories with them and carry the legacy of the loved one forward,” she states.
