Shekhar Suman opens up about son Aayush's tragic passing, recalls heartbreaking final moments

Veteran actor Shekhar Suman opened up about the most heart-wrenching phase of his life, losing his 11-year-old son, Aayush, to a rare and incurable heart condition in 1995. The young child suffered from endomyocardial fibrosis (EMF) and passed away following a painful battle with the illness.

In an intimate conversation with The Lallantop, Shekhar looked back on the emotional and financial strain during that period, reflecting on how he navigated career demands while coping with his son’s terminal diagnosis.

Heartbreak during 'Dekh Bhai Dekh'

Recalling the initial days after learning about Aayush's illness, Shekhar shared that he was struggling to find work at the time. To manage the soaring medical expenses and support his family, he decided to transition to television, taking up a role in the iconic sitcom Dekh Bhai Dekh, produced by Jaya Bachchan.

He revealed that during shoots, he kept his phone right next to him at all times, constantly waiting for updates on his son’s health while performing on camera.

Shekhar recalls painful memory

Describing the tragic final moments of Aayush’s life, Shekhar shared a painful memory that still haunts him.

“Before his death, he had started reciting Sanskrit shlokas. He was 11. I don’t know how he did it. He said he saw a golden light coming, held my hand and told me, ‘Papa, I don’t want to go. Please save me.’ Then he started reciting some Sanskrit shlokas, and we were flustered. He then told each one of us who were with him at that time, including our driver, that he loved us. He was like an angel; he was a beautiful child. I still don’t know how that tragedy happened to us. But I guess that’s destiny. There’s no bigger tragedy that can befall parents than losing their children,” Shekhar recounted.

The actor also revealed that as Aayush's suffering intensified, his wife, Alka Suman, made a painful plea to the doctors.

“His condition worsened so much that at one point, my wife begged the doctors to let him go. I told her, ‘What are you saying? We will fight till the end.’ But she said, ‘This is the end. Let him go; he is suffering a lot.’ She was right; we couldn’t bear seeing him suffer like that,” he added.

Life after tragedy and work front

Following the loss of his son, Shekhar admitted that he completely lost interest in wealth and fame. However, he kept pushing forward and working to provide for his family.

On the professional front, Shekhar Suman recently wrapped up the first season of his digital talk show Shekhar Tonite, which premiered in May 2026. The show marked his return to political satire and late-night television after nearly 14 years, evoking memories of his legendary run with Movers & Shakers.