“Shoaib’s son has been hospitalised for the last three weeks with an inoperable brain tumour. His cancer —DIPG (Diffusive Pontine Glioma) — is incurable and lethal. “Shoaib and I have kept this a secret. We had not told our parents as they are very close to Ayaan. He was diagnosed with this brain cancer last year,” he added.

Ayaan’s grandfather Hanif underwent an operation for liver cancer in July this year and his right liver lobe and gall bladder were removed.