Actor Shekhar Suman opens up about losing his eldest son Aayush to a severe illness

Actor and television presenter Shekhar Suman recently talked about the hardest phase of his life when his eldest son, Aayush, was diagnosed with a serious disease at age 11 and passed away. Shekhar stated that he had no work and earned very little at the time, making it hard to look after his child while refusing to take money from home.

Career

Shekhar shared that he mostly received calls for soap operas instead of movie offers when he was waiting for work. Director Anand Mahendroo called him about a serial named Dekh Bhai Dekh, mentioning that Jaya Bachchan was producing it and many big people were involved. Shekhar eventually took the role and never had to look back, even though his son's health was getting worse every day.

Shifts

He recalled that a telephone was kept on the set of the light-hearted comedy show so his family could update him. Whenever the phone rang, he picked it up with a pounding heart, hoping for no bad news before going back to perform on stage.

Final Moments

Before his death, 11-year-old Aayush held his hand, said he saw a golden light, and told him, 'Papa, I don't want to go. Please save me.' He then started reciting Sanskrit shlokas and told everyone present, including their driver, that he loved them.

While

Shekhar recalled that his wife, Alka Suman, reached a point where she begged doctors to pull the plug to end their son's severe suffering, while Shekhar initially wanted to fight till the end. Shekhar continues to work to take care of his remaining family, though he lost interest in fame and money after the tragedy, and he and his wife still spend two to three hours every day thinking and talking about Aayush.

Context

Public figures sometimes share personal tragedies and family struggles during interviews to reflect on their past hardships and connect with their audience. Losing a child is considered one of the most painful experiences a parent can face, leading to long-lasting emotional impact and remembrance.