Not easy but almost sure of victory, says Sutapa Sikdar on her husband Irrfan Khan’s health

Mumbai, Mar 10: Actor Irrfan Khan’s wife producer Sutapa Sikdar on Saturday said her “warrior” husband is fighting every obstacle in the path to recovery and hopes he would emerge a winner after their struggles are over.

Ever since the 51-year-old actor announced that he was suffering from a “rare disease”, rumours started circulating that he has brain cancer and has been admitted to Kokilaben Hospital here.

The speculation was quashed by both Irrfan’s team and hospital authorities.

The actor had said he would share details when there was a conclusive diagnosis.

Thanking well-wishers in a Facebook post, Sutapa Sikdar said her prime focus as of now was to support her husband in devising “strategies of the battlefield which I have to conquer”.

“My best friend and my partner is a ‘warrior,’ he is fighting every obstacle with tremendous grace and beauty. I apologise for not answering calls messages, but I want all of you to know I am truly humbled indebted for ever for the wishes prayers and concern from all over the world.”

“I am grateful to God and my partner for making me a warrior too. I am at present focused in the strategies of the battlefield which I have to conquer. It wasn’t and isn’t and is not going to be easy but the hope ignited by the magnitude of family, friends and fans of Irrfan has made me only optimistic and almost sure of the victory,” she wrote.

Sutapa, who has produced Irrfan’s films such as “Madaari” and “Qarib Qarib Singlle”, implored people not to “waste our precious energies” in speculating about the actor’s illness. She, instead, requested them to pray for his well-being.

“I know curiosity germinates from concern but let’s turn our curiosity from what it is to what it should be... Let’s not waste our precious energies to only know what it is and just prey to make it what it should be.”

“My humble request to all of you is to concentrate on the song of life, to dance of life to victory. My family will soon join in this dance of life,” Sutapa wrote.

On the work front, Irrfan’s next release is “Blackmail”, which is scheduled to arrive in theatres on April 6. The film, directed by Abhinay Deo, also stars Kirti Kulhari and Divya Dutta in key roles.

Filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj has put his next with Irrfan and Deepika Padukone on hold due to the ill health of the lead actors.