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Six years after his passing on April 29, 2020, Irrfan Khan continues to be remembered not just for his unforgettable performances but for the quiet wisdom he shared off-screen. The beloved actor, who died at 53 following a battle with a neuroendocrine tumor , left behind words that feel as relevant today as ever, on age, creativity, and the art of simply going with the flow.

Irrfan Khan shares his words about wisdom

In an old interview with CNN-News18, Irrfan was asked whether turning 50 had made him wiser. He answered, "I don't understand what is the obsession of counting years. Age has nothing to do with wisdom. It's just what kind of life you are leading."

He went on to explain that real intelligence comes from exposure and experience, not the number of years lived. The actor shared, "Sometimes I meet kids who are much wiser than me. It's just an exposure and your bent of mind, then you definitely seek and grow. Sometimes you have an attitude or tendency to grasp or observe things."

The late actor had added, "If you have that, then age is just a factor. But I'm fortunate that I chose this job. Initially, I chose it for fame and money, but as I entered drama schools, I saw the potential in it."

Irrfan Khan on growing old like Clint Eastwood and Woody Allen

For Irrfan, the real dread of aging as an actor had nothing to do with looks. It was the possibility of losing the hunger to experiment. He looked up to icons like Clint Eastwood and Woody Allen as the gold standard of growing old gracefully.

He said, "Take Clint Eastwood or Woody Allen, for example; the way they are growing old is absolute wow. I would love to grow old like that, where there is still exploring. So, you have to bring new blood and thoughts into your stories. You cannot do it on your own all the time."

He closed with a reflection that now carries an added weight of poignancy:

He shared, "It's a tragedy if you don't realize that your creative instincts are gone. It is a helpless situation where you don't know why it's not working. I think that's the most frightful and scary thing."

Why Irrfan Khan stopped planning and learned to go with the flow

Irrfan Khan also spoke candidly about his complicated relationship with planning and how life repeatedly steered him away from it. He said, "I used to plan things, but my planning never ever worked. For me, it's more of a spontaneous reaction to things and going with the flow. Life has deliberately given me signals that 'don't plan, and I will see to it that your plan doesn't materialize.' I learnt that lesson very early in my life."

The actor went on to add, "Life constantly kept me nudging that don't fix things. I'm thankful that I was a little aware of what life was telling me. I could take that signal. I can't plan. If I plan for two months, I'll start feeling suffocated."

More about Irrfan Khan

Irrfan Khan passed away on April 29, 2020. He is remembered as one of Indian cinema 's finest actors and most thoughtful voices.