bollywood

Updated: May 26, 2018 09:19 IST

This news should come as a big relief to legions of Irrfan Khan fans. Director Shoojit Sircar confirmed to Mumbai Mirror that the actor is responding well to treatment and he believes they can start Udham Singh biopic – starring Irrfan in the lead – by the year-end.

“I’ve been speaking to both Irrfan and his wife (Sutapa Sikdar), he’s responding well to the treatment and trying to cope with the knowledge that he’s battling neuroendocrine tumour by treating the recuperation in Europe like a short and unexpected holiday. I’m planning to visit him next month. We hope to roll by the year-end (the Udham Singh biopic), but will wait till Irrfan is ready to shoot,” the filmmaker told the tabloid.

Irrfan shared the news of his illness on Twitter, as well as his state of mind. In March, he ended all speculation about his disease saying, “Life is under no obligation to give us what we expect: Margaret Mitchell. The unexpected makes us grow, which is what the past few days have been about. Learning that I have been diagnosed with NeuroEndocrine Tumour as of now has now has admittedly been difficult, but the love and strength of those around me and that I found within me has brought me to a place of hope. The journey of this is taking me out of the country, and I request everyone to continue sending their wishes. As for the rumours that were floated NEURO is not always about the brain and googling is the easiest way to do research :-) To those who waited for my words, I hope to be back with more stories to tell.”

Later, writing from the UK where he is undergoing treatment, Irrfan revealed why those closest to him have been calling him a warrior, “God speaks to each of us as he makes us, then walks with us silently out of the night. These are the words we dimly hear: You, sent out beyond your recall, go to the limits of your longing. Embody me.n Flare up like a flame and make big shadows I can move in. Let everything happen to you: beauty and terror. Just keep going. No feeling is final. Don’t let yourself lose me. Nearby is the country they call life. You will know it by its seriousness. Give me your hand #rainermariarilke.”

Other than the Udham Singh biopic, Irrfan is also expected to play the lead role opposite Deepika Padukone in Vishal Bhardwaj’s next. The film’s team also decided to postpone the film till Irrfan recuperates.