When Shekhar Suman threw out religious idols from his house after son Aayush's death: ' I said that I will never go to the God...'

Time of India

18-05-2025

Actor
Shekhar Suman
once opened up about the darkest period of his life—the heartbreaking loss of his elder son Aayush, who passed away at just 11 years old due to a rare illness. Shekhar recalled a painful moment when, despite his son's critical condition, a director called him for a shoot. He described how Aayush desperately held onto his hand, begging him not to leave. The tragedy shook Shekhar deeply, leading to a crisis of faith that made him remove all religious idols from his home.
Shekhar remembers his late son
In an emotional interview with Connect FM Canada, Shekhar recalled the heart-wrenching moments with his son Aayush, holding him tightly and praying for a miracle—only to realize, 'miracles don't happen.' He shared a painful memory when a director asked him to shoot despite Aayush's critical condition. On a heavy rainy day, knowing his son was suffering, Shekhar initially refused but was persuaded by the director, who said it would be a huge loss if he didn't show up. Reluctantly, he agreed. As he was leaving, Aayush gripped his hand and pleaded, 'Papa, don't go today, please.' Shekhar let go with a promise to return quickly—a moment etched deeply in his heart forever.
After Aayush's tragic passing, Shekhar Suman experienced a deep
loss of faith
. In his pain, he closed the temple in his home and removed all the idols, saying he could no longer believe in a God who had caused him such heartbreak by taking away his innocent child. He also revealed how Aayush's suffering had been so intense that even his wife prayed for his release from pain. Shekhar admitted he still hasn't fully recovered and thinks of Aayush every single day.
Knowing about Aayush's illness
Shekhar Suman has previously opened up about the intense struggle he faced after learning in 1989 that his son Aayush was terminally ill. It felt like his world was falling apart — his career, life, and family all hanging by a thread. He spent countless days holding his son, painfully aware that their time together was limited. In an interview with Entertainment Live, Shekhar revealed that doctors initially gave a grim prognosis of just eight months. Yet, against all odds, Aayush fought bravely and lived for four years instead of eight months.
Shekhar Suman revealed that he took his son Aayush to London for advanced treatment but chose to decline a heart transplant because of the associated risks. Feeling helpless was especially tough for him, given his own father's background in medicine. Despite consulting leading doctors worldwide and seeking solace in Buddhism, Shekhar came to accept the painful truth that miracles don't always happen.
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