The elder of the two brothers, Ikramul Khan, breathed his last at Dungri village in Bihar’s Chhapra district. His brother Hussain Ali also suffers from Progeria — a rare genetic disorder that speeds up ageing.

The Indian Express had spoken to Ikramul in the last week of November, before Paa was released. In the movie, Amitabh Bachchan played the role of Auro, who too suffered from Progeria.

Over the phone, Ikramul had said: “People are telling us that Amitabh looks a lot like us in the movie. The superstar wants to meet us. But we don’t know about destiny. It is about luck.”

Surely, it was destiny that came in the way of Auro and Ikramul, who died of a lung infection.

Minutes after receiving the news of Ikramul’s death from Sekhar Chattapdhyay, general secretary of S B Devi Charity Home in Kolkata, Bachchan had said: “Deeply grieved. My condolences to the family.” The actor had plans to meet both Ikramul and Hussain.

Now, four of the five children in the family, born with this disease, are dead. Ikramul and Hussain’s parents Bisul Khan (42) and Razia Bibi (42) were on the verge of committing suicide after they were ostracised because five of their seven children suffered from Progeria. But in 2002, NGO S B Devi Charity Home took up their cause and since then, it has been taking care of the children.

Hussain (11), who is the lone survivor now, said: “Another brother is gone. What will I do alone?” he said. The NGO plans to bring him to Kolkata and keep him under strict medical supervision.

“Ikramul used to call me and say that he was feeling tired and wanted to come to Kolkata. It was probably the mental pressure that led to his death,” said Chattopadhyay. He pointed out that there was too much pressure from the media as well.

The people, especially villagers, used to spread rumours about his health and the money being given to his family. This used to pain Ikramul, said Chattopadhyay.

He, however, maintains there is hope for such patients. Usually people suffering from this genetic disorder have a life span of 11-12 years. But while Ikramul died at the age of 23, his sister Rehana was 24 when she died last year.