Miss our jhal muri: Shoojit Sircar squeezes his heart into tearful note to Irrfan

India Today

29-04-2025

Filmmaker Shoojit Sircar posted an emotional letter to his late friend, Irrfan, expressing the void left by his death and the love that continues to surround him, on his fifth death anniversary. In the post, Shoojit, who was close to Irrfan and worked with him in 'Piku', recalled their shared moments of laughter, meaningful conversations, and the impact the actor had on his life.advertisement"Friend, wherever you are, I know you're doing well and have probably made many new friends there. I'm sure people have fallen in love with your charm, as we all have. Here, I'm doing fine. But there's one thing you might not be aware of Irfaan - just how much you're loved and missed here. You'd be surprised:) (sic)," Sircar wrote in the letter shared on Instagram.
Shoojit Sircar and Deepika Padukone with the late actor Irrfan on the sets of Piku in Kolkata.
Shoojit reflected on their time together, recalling cherished memories of their "jhal muri sessions" and their deep, philosophical discussions on life, death, spiritualism, and science. "Remember our long conversations about spiritualism and science when you were in London? Those talks were incredibly deep," he added.advertisement
The filmmaker also shared that he continues to hold onto the books Irrfan recommended to him, often pondering the thought-provoking conversations they had on life and its mysteries. "Your smile and those mystical eyes of yours are etched in my memory," Shoojit wrote, and emphasised how difficult it has been to live without his friend.
A part of the letter reveals how Shoojit has taken on a guiding role for Irrfan's son, Babil. "Babil and I play football together, and I've become a bit of a guardian to him," the director wrote, assuring Irrfan that he is looking out for his son. "Sutapa and I talk often. Me and Ronnie, we've just finished a film project with Babil. He's growing into a fine artist, slowly carving his own space in the industry. I'm sure he's on the right path, just like you always envisioned."Shoojit Sircar concluded the letter by saying, "I know you're watching over us from wherever you are, and that's a comfort," he writes. "There's so much to talk about, but for now, I'll just say adieu, friend. Lots of love."advertisementReacting to Sircar's letter, Irrfan's son, Babil, wrote, "@shoojitsircar words can't do justice for the love the music of our lives (sic)."
The heartfelt message also resonated with fans and colleagues. Actors Vidya Malvade, Richa Chadha, Shashank Vyas and Bhumi Pednekar, among others commented on post.