Bengaluru: India’s cricket stars including batting legend Sachin Tendulkar and captain Virat Kohli mourned the loss of Bollywood actor Irrfan Khan.

The Angrezi Medium star passed away due to a colon infection in a Mumbai hospital on Wednesday (April 29) at the age of 53. He is survived by his wife Sutapa Sarkar and two sons Babil and Ayan.

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“It’s saddening that this day, we have to bring forward the news of him (Irrfan) passing away,” the actor’s PR team said in a media statement.

“Irrfan was a strong soul, someone who fought till the very end and always inspired everyone who came close to him. After having been struck by lightning in 2018 with the news of a rare cancer, he took life soon after as it came and he fought the many battles that came with it. Surrounded by his love, his family for whom he most cared about, he left for heaven abode, leaving behind truly a legacy of his own. We all pray and hope that he is at peace. And to resonate and part with his words he had said, ‘As if I was tasting life for the first time, the magical side of it’,” it added.

On Twitter, tributes poured in for the Piku actor. Irrfan had to give up his cricket career as he did not have Rs 600 despite being selected to play a BCCI tournament (Col. CK Nayudu Trophy).

“Saddened to hear about the passing of Irrfan Khan. What a phenomenal talent and dearly touched everyone's heart with his versatility. May god give peace to his soul,” Kohli wrote on his Twitter page.

Batting legend Sachin Tendulkar wrote, “Sad to hear the news of #IrrfanKhan passing away. He was one of my favorites & I’ve watched almost all his films, the last one being Angrezi Medium. Acting came so effortlessly to him, he was just terrific. May his soul Rest In Peace. Condolences to his loved ones (sic).”