Entertainment
Babil Khan Reflects on Father’s Public‑Transport Rule and Mother’s School‑Day Support
Actor Babil Khan recalled how his late father, Irrfan Khan, insisted that he travel to school by bus, ferry and rickshaw even though the family owned several cars. Babil said he had to change modes of transport at least three times to reach school, often arriving after football practice had begun. He praised his father’s commitment to values, describing him as courageous and fearless, and said he learned endurance and spiritual resilience from him.
In a recent conversation with filmmaker Farah Khan on her vlog, Babil also spoke about his mother, writer Sutapa, who ensured she was present at important school events while Irrfan was away shooting. He remembered that Irrfan spent about eight months a year on film sets and could not attend his son’s sports day or annual day. During a Class 11 film project, Irrfan was unable to attend because he was filming, and Sutapa represented the family in the audience.
Irrfan Khan, known for films such as The Lunchbox, Maqbool and Paan Singh Tomar, died in April 2020 at age 53 after a battle with a rare neuroendocrine tumour and a subsequent colon infection. Babil’s remarks were made during a visit to the family’s Mumbai home, where he reflected on the complementary roles his parents played in his upbringing.