"I had been in a different game, I was travelling on a speedy train ride, had dreams, plans, aspirations, goals, was fully engaged in them. And suddenly, someone taps on my shoulder and I turn to see. Itâs the TC: âYour destination is about to come. Please get down.â I am confused: No, no. My destination hasnât come," read a quote from his open letter published in 2018. And, on 29th April, his journey came to an end. 

A man of few words and an actor of silent expressions bid adieu to his loved ones and passionate fans. Battling a rare form of cancer since 2018, the 53-year-old was admitted to Mumbai's Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital on 28th April for receiving treatment for a colon infection. But, the following day, owing to the complications arising from the infection, Irrfan breathed his last. 

From Sutapa, Babil and Ayaan... pic.twitter.com/djfdp5KxTL

The unexpected death of the beloved actor sent shockwaves across the film industry, with his co-actors and fans mourning the loss. Irrfan's demise also evoked heartfelt tributes from the Indian cricket fraternity including the touching messages from the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli and Yuvraj Singh amongst others. 

Sad to hear the news of #IrrfanKhan passing away. He was one of my favorites & Iâve 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. ?? pic.twitter.com/gaLHCTSbUh

While Tendulkar was saddened by the actor's demise and recalled his movies to laud his effortless acting, Yuvraj, who had his own battle with cancer, tweeted: "I know the journey I know the pain and I know he fought till the end some are lucky to survive some don't I'm sure you are in a better place now Irfan Khan my condolence to your family. May his soul Rest In Peace". 

It's been four days since his sad demise, but the tributes are still pouring in and feeling still remains surreal for fans. Known for his nuanced performances, the highly respected actor proved his mettle working in Hollywood, Bollywood and British films in his career spanning across 30 years. 

Whether it was his brilliant work, playing the erudite, immigrant father, in Mira Nair's The Namesake, an ageing widower in the sumptuous romance The Lunchbox or playing the ruthless rebel dacoit in Pan Singh Tomar, Irrfan had the unique ability to bring his uncanny characters to life with lazy elegance. 

© Reuters

However, despite his choices over the years including the conscious decision to pick acting over cricket, the gentleman's game didn't abandon him. As it turned out, in 2018, Irrfan was undergoing treatment in a London hospital on the opposite side of Lord's where the poster of a smiling Vivian Richards helped him overcome his pain. 

"As I was entering the hospital, drained, exhausted, listless, I hardly realised my hospital was on the opposite side of Lordâs, the stadium. The Mecca of my childhood dream. Amidst the pain, I saw a poster of a smiling Vivian Richards. Nothing happened, as if that world didnât ever belong to me," Irrfan had revealed in his heartfelt open letter published in 2018. 

As Irrfan, a strong soul who fought till the very end and always inspired everyone who came close to him, left for his heavenly abode, leaving behind a legacy of an exemplary acting career, we, as his fans, can only wonder how things might have been if it wasn't for the shortage of Rs 600 he needed to play the CK Nayudu Trophy.

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