Irrfan Khan, the late legendary actor, always held a special place in his heart for his hometown, Jaipur. His dream of establishing an acting institute there was something he cherished deeply, according to his wife, Sutapa Sikdar, who shared these personal insights in an exclusive interview with IANS.

Beyond his passion for acting, Irrfan Khan had a love for farming and organic agriculture. Sutapa revealed that he owned a mango farm in Maharashtra and had plans to create similar fruit gardens in other regions. His connection to nature was something he wanted to nurture, combining his artistic side with his interest in sustainable living.

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Sutapa was in Jaipur recently to inaugurate the Irrfan Theatre Festival, an event that runs from January 6 to 8, in honor of her late husband’s legacy.

Reflecting on his character, Sutapa described Irrfan as a man who never held grudges or spoke ill of anyone, even those he worked with. “He never complained about anything,” she said, emphasizing his graceful approach to life.

Irrfan Khan was known for his deep intellectual curiosity. In his final days, he completed the 12 volumes of ‘The Complete Works of Vivekananda’, a gift from friends, showing his spiritual side.

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Sutapa spoke of his philosophical nature, highlighting his bond with filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, who introduced him to the teachings of J. Krishnamurti, and his connection with Osho, which influenced his worldview. Irrfan believed that all spiritual seekers shared a similar essence, transcending individual paths.

Sutapa also refuted claims that the couple faced hardships, recalling their early days with fondness. “We never had struggle days,” she remarked, reminiscing about their adventures on a bike before upgrading to a Land Cruiser.

She emphasized that true struggle lies in the mind, not in material circumstances. Their life together, filled with shared books and poetry, was marked by love and contentment.

Irrfan’s storytelling abilities were legendary, and Sutapa fondly recalled his love for films like ‘Paan Singh Tomar’ and ‘Maqbool’, which resonated with him on a deep level. He believed in the concept of poetic justice, and these films reflected his belief in the power of storytelling.

Irrfan passed away in April 2020 after a brave battle with a neuroendocrine tumor. He leaves behind a lasting legacy, his wife Sutapa, and their two sons, Babil and Ayan.

Babil made his acting debut in Netflix’s ‘Qala’ and is also working on Shoojit Sircar’s upcoming film, continuing the family’s creative legacy.