Actress Nimrat Kaur celebrated 12 years of her film The Lunchbox on Saturday, remembering her journey with the late Irrfan Khan. She shared a heartfelt note on Instagram, reflecting on how her character Ila’s tiffin carried not just food, but a piece of her heart to audiences around the world.
12 years ago today, Ila’s lunchbox carried not just her food, but a piece of my heart to you all. While Sajan and her love story remains a mystery, ours carries on, Nimrat wrote. She added, Like everything delicious that takes time to cook, thank you for letting our little film with a big heart only taste better and better with time. Thank you all, thank you universe.
The 2013 film, directed by Ritesh Batra, was an international collaboration between studios from India, the US, Germany, and France. Alongside Nimrat and Irrfan, it features Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Bharti Achrekar, and Nakul Vaid in supporting roles.
The Lunchbox premiered at Cannes’ Critics’ Week in 2013 and won the Grand Rail d’Or (Viewers Choice Award). It also screened at the Toronto International Film Festival. The story revolves around a tiffin delivery mistake that sends Ila’s lunch to Sajan Fernandes, sparking an unexpected friendship that grows through letters exchanged inside the lunchbox.
Remembering Irrfan Khan, he was diagnosed with neuroendocrine cancer in 2018 and passed away in 2020 at the age of 53, just days after his mother’s death. Nimrat’s tribute not only honors the film but also the enduring legacy of her co-star, whose performance continues to touch audiences worldwide.
