Babil Khan opens up about his father Irrfan’s legacy: Baba’s legacy is not just about being an actor!

Rashita Sahni

In a heartfelt conversation, Babil Khan, the son of the late Bollywood actor Irrfan, shared beautiful insights about his father’s personality and legacy. Irrfan was diagnosed with neuroendocrine cancer in March 2018, and passed away from the disease on 29 April 2020.  The legendary actor left an indelible mark on the film industry, and his legacy continues through his son Babil who now works in the Hindi film industry as an actor.

Babil remembered his father as a “kind-hearted and fearless” individual. He emphasised the difference between being “nice” and being “kind,” highlighting Irrfan’s generous heart and willingness to stand up for himself without people-pleasing. Babil shared a humorous anecdote about his father’s playful nature, where Irrfan would snatch phones during selfie-taking, showcasing his fun-loving and unapologetic personality.

Babil said, “He (Irrfan) was not nice, he was kind. If someday someone came to take a selfie, he would sometimes snatch the phone and say ‘what now, how will you take a selfie now?’ So, there’s a difference between being nice and being kind. Like he was a very kind hearted man. I don’t know if he was good or bad because nobody is a good person or bad person. But he was a kind man. His heart was very generous but he was not nice or sweet. If he had to say something, he would stand up for himself. There was no people pleasing in him at all, he was fearless.”

When asked about carrying forward his father’s legacy, Babil revealed that pressure arises when he takes himself too seriously. However, when he focuses on being his authentic self and embracing his individuality, the legacy becomes enjoyable. Babil believes that Irrfan’s legacy is not just about acting but about being true to oneself and striving to be the best version of oneself.

When asked if Babil ever takes any extra pressure of taking his Baba’s legacy ahead, he said, “The moment I start taking myself too seriously and I start putting too much importance to my identity, then the pressure starts bothering me but moment I don’t take myself too seriously, then the legacy becomes fun because the legacy is not about being an actor.

It really is about being who I am and what I can do with my individuality and how I can be the best version of myself. That is his legacy and that will continue from now on.” On the work front, Babil was recently seen in Amit Golani’s ZEE5 film Logout. The film was critically appreciated and Babil was praised for his role as Pratyush.