In a touching Instagram post, Sutapa Sikdar, the spouse of the late actor Irrfan Khan, shared heartfelt memories as she marked the 10th anniversary of the film “The Lunchbox.” The post featured a nostalgic picture of Irrfan Khan, and Sutapa’s words beautifully captured the essence of their shared journey and the significance of lunchboxes in Irrfan’s life.
Sutapa Sikdar’s post began by reminiscing about an iconic phrase, “phir se aalu baingan hai re kaisi ulzhan,” which she and Irrfan used during their college days. This phrase, now etched in their memories, resurfaced as she looked at the movie poster of “The Lunchbox,” where Irrfan Khan is seen opening a lunchbox. It brought back memories of their college days and the playful moments they shared.
Sutapa Sikdar went on to highlight the unexpected role that “The Lunchbox” played in Irrfan’s life. She revealed an intriguing story from Irrfan’s childhood when he attended St. Paul’s School in Jaipur. Irrfan’s lunchbox, filled with ammi-made paranthas, stood in stark contrast to his classmates’ white bread sandwiches and fancy jam rolls. This contrast fueled an inferiority complex in young Irrfan’s mind, as he perceived sandwiches as a symbol of upper-class privilege. Ironically, as fate would have it, years later, the humble lunchbox would become iconic in his cinematic work and bring personal transformation. “All childhood trauma gone,” Sutapa remarked with a touch of nostalgia.
Notably, actress Konkona Sensharma expressed her sentiments by commenting on the post, saying, “So beautiful, thanks for sharing with us.” In response, Sutapa Sikdar graciously replied, “Thanks for reading the loong post.”
“The Lunchbox,” directed by Ritesh Batra, is a heartwarming film that continues to resonate with audiences worldwide, and this heartfelt note by Sutapa Sikdar adds another layer of depth to its significance, marking a decade of its release.
