'This is not a loss, it is a gain': Irrfan Khan's family publish official statement

Khan's family mourn his loss in a heartfelt open letter

An image that shows Irrfan Khan with his wife Sutapa and his son Ayaan at the 'Inferno' premiere in 2016 in Florence, Italy. Getty

A statement from Irrfan Khan's wife, Sutapa, and his two sons, Babil and Ayaan, was posted to the actor's Twitter account yesterday, the first since the actor's death.

The legendary Indian actor, 53, died in the early hours of Wednesday, April 29, after being admitted to hospital with a colon infection. The actor was battling cancer since 2018.

"I want to assure everyone that this is not a loss, it is a gain" Sutapa wrote in a heartfelt letter. "It's a gain of the things he taught us, and now we shall finally begin to truly implement it and evolve."

News of Khan's death came as a shock to the film industry, not just in India but across the world, with thousands of co-stars and fans paying tribute to the star.

"It's difficult to explain what a wondrous, beautiful, overwhelming, painful and exciting this journey has been," Sutapa said. "I find his two and a half years to have been an interlude, which had its own beginning, middle and culmination with Irrfan helming the role of the orchestra conductor, separate from the 35 years of our companionship."

Sutapa also wrote about her two sons and how she wishes that they make it through this difficult time with "their father's guidance".

Babil and Ayaan shared two lessons they had learnt from their father.

"Learn to surrender to the dance of uncertainty and trust your faith in the universe," Babil said, while Ayaan said: "Learn to control your mind and to not let it control you."

In the statement, Sutapa also thanked the doctors who have supported her family throughout her husband's illness.

Khan was laid to rest in a private funeral in Mumbai, hours following his death.

He was one of the most recognised Indian actors in Hollywood. He starred in films such as Life of Pi, Slumdog Millionaire, Jurassic World, The Amazing Spider-Man, A Mighty Heart and The Darjeeling Limited.