In a conversation with The Lallantop, Shekhar spoke about the family’s struggle during the child’s final days, the financial difficulties he faced at the time and the words Aayush spoke shortly before his death at the age of 11.
The actor said the loss continues to affect his family, even decades later. Actor and television presenter Shekhar Suman has revisited one of the most painful chapters of his life, recalling how he continued working while his eldest son, Aayush, battled a terminal illness.
5 Oct 2026 | 12:06 Recalling the moment he learnt about Aayush’s condition, Shekhar described how the news came when his professional life was already uncertain. The actor recalled that his 11-year-old son had begun reciting Sanskrit shlokas. The production team kept a telephone on the set so that his family could contact him with updates.
I thought I had nothing left in life,” he said during the interview. Shekhar said he was hesitant at first, but Mahendroo encouraged him to reconsider, pointing out that Jaya Bachchan was producing the show. Shekhar said Aayush’s health was deteriorating, leaving him anxious throughout the working day. “I still don’t know how I did it all (continued working),” he recalled, describing the emotional difficulty of switching between his personal crisis and his professional responsibilities. Among the memories that have stayed with Shekhar is the moment he says occurred shortly before Aayush died. Shekhar said Aayush spoke about seeing a golden light, held his father’s hand and pleaded with him. “He said he saw a golden light coming, held my hand and told me, ‘Papa, I don’t want to go. Then he started reciting some Sanskrit shlokas, and we were flustered,” Shekhar said. He added that Aayush then told the people gathered around him, including the family’s driver, that he loved them. “He was like an angel; he was a beautiful child,” the actor said. He said he and his family still spend two to three hours each day thinking and talking about Aayush. There’s no bigger tragedy that can befall parents than losing their children,” he said, adding that the wound would never fully heal.
For Shekhar, the period was marked by two devastating realities. He had little work and was worried about supporting his family when he learnt that his son was terminally ill. At a time when he felt he had little left to hold on to, he had to keep working while coping with the possibility of losing his child. “I discovered my son was terminally ill. Firstly, I had no work at that time. On top of that, we received such tragic news. I was completely ruined and destroyed. He also spoke about the financial pressure he was under, explaining that he was not earning enough to comfortably meet his son’s medical needs and did not want to depend on his family for money. Despite the circumstances, Shekhar was initially reluctant to work in television. He hoped for film offers, but calls from the industry often brought proposals for serials instead. That changed when director Anand Mahendroo approached him for the comedy show Dekh Bhai Dekh. Shekhar eventually accepted the role, which became a significant part of his television career. Even as his career found a new direction, the situation at home remained difficult. Every time it rang, he would answer with a pounding heart, afraid that he might hear bad news. After the call, however, he had to return to performing in a light-hearted comedy show. For Shekhar, continuing to work was not simply about building a career. He felt responsible for supporting his family, even as he struggled to process what was happening to his son. Please save me. Shekhar described the loss as a tragedy that has never stopped hurting. “I still don’t know how that tragedy happened to us. But I guess that’s destiny.
‘We will fight till the end’: The family’s most painful decision
Because he had to care for the rest of his family, he continued working. After Aayush’s death, Shekhar said he lost interest in work, money and fame.
The actor said he initially resisted the idea, telling her that they would continue fighting for their child. “She was the ‘savvy mother who begged for her son’s death. ’ She was right; we couldn’t bear seeing him suffer like that,” he said. Shekhar also recalled how Aayush’s condition became so severe that his wife, Alka Suman, asked doctors to let their son go, believing he was suffering unbearably. But he later acknowledged how difficult it had been for the family to watch Aayush endure so much pain. His recollections offer a glimpse into a grief that has remained part of his life. For the actor, professional success could not erase the loss, and the memories of his son continue to occupy a deeply personal place in the family’s everyday life. You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test Get the latest Lifestyle News and more. Download the TOI app.