Actors wait for characters. When they get one, through which they can leave a mark on the audience, they thank the directors for offering them the role. When I look at roles played by Irrfan, I see the other side of the story -- Characters also wait for the right actors. But not all of them get lucky. Roohdaar got lucky in Haider, Ashwin Kumar did in Talvar. As did Saajan Fernandez in The Lunchbox, Ashoke Ganguly in The Namesake and Rana Chaudhary in Piku. They were fortunate they were portrayed by Irrfan. Their creators gave them their essence, but Irrfan gave them a vital existence and materialized them on the screen with such honesty that they became immortal. They continue to live on even as Irrfan is no more, and will continue to throb with life as long as Indian cinema exists.