MUMBAI: Bollywood star Irrfan Khan, known internationally for his roles in blockbusters “Life of Pi” and “Slumdog Millionaire,” shocked fans Friday by revealing he has a rare tumor.
In a statement addressing speculation by fans and the media over his health, Khan said he has been diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumor.
The disease affects the body’s hormonal messaging system and studies suggest it afflicts just 35 in 100,000 people.
“Learning that I have been diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumor as of 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,” Khan said on Twitter.
“To those who waited for my words, I hope to be back with more stories to tell,” he said, adding that he would leave India for treatment.
Referring to rumors about his illness, Khan said a neuroendocrine tumor “is not always about the brain and googling is the easiest way to do research.”
The 51-year-old Indian actor, who was in the 2016 film “Inferno” alongside Tom Hanks, is one of Bollywood’s most globally-recognized exports, with a stellar career at home and in Hollywood.
He had been scheduled to start work on a film by Bollywood director Vishal Bharadwaj, who recently announced the production had been postponed due to Khan’s illness.
‘Life of Pi’ star Irrfan Khan reveals struggle with rare illness
‘Life of Pi’ star Irrfan Khan reveals struggle with rare illness
Makkah museum displays world’s largest Qur’an
MAKKAH: The Holy Qur’an Museum at the Hira Cultural District in Makkah is showcasing a monumental handwritten copy of the Holy Qur’an, recognized as the largest Qur’an of its kind in the world.
The manuscript measures 312 cm by 220 cm and comprises 700 pages, earning the museum recognition from Guinness World Records for displaying the world’s largest Qur’an, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The manuscript is a magnified reproduction of a historic Qur’an dating back to the 16th century, the SPA stated.
The original copy measures 45 cm by 30 cm, with the chapters written primarily in Thuluth script, while Surah Al-Fatiha was penned in Naskh, reflecting the refined artistic choices and calligraphic diversity of the era.
The Qur’an is a unique example of Arabic calligraphy, gilding and bookbinding, showcasing Islamic art through intricate decorations, sun-shaped motifs on the opening folio, and elaborately designed frontispiece and title pages that reflect a high level of artistic mastery.
The manuscript was endowed as a waqf in 1883. Its original version is currently preserved at the King Abdulaziz Complex for Endowment Libraries, serving as a lasting testament to Muslims’ enduring reverence for the Qur’an and the richness of Islamic arts across the centuries.
