Spoiler Alert: Softie Inside.

Disha Singh, Independent Creative Consultant, pays tribute to Jishnu Sen, recalling how his sharp wit, compassion and encouragement left a lasting impression

by Disha Singh
Published: Jul 6, 2026 1:30 PM | 3 min read

The author reflects on their initial impression of Jishnu as loud and contrarian, categorizing him as someone best appreciated in small doses.
Through shared interests and conversations, the author discovers Jishnu's sharp intellect, generous spirit, and emotional depth, despite his gruff exterior.
A significant moment highlighted is Jishnu's supportive gesture towards the author's daughter, encouraging her to embrace new experiences in Bengaluru.
The author concludes by acknowledging the complexity of people's personalities, expressing gratitude for having misjudged Jishnu and wishing him well in his afterlife.

Loud. Opinionated. Unapologetically contrarian.

My first thought after meeting Jishnu?

“Does this guy know there’s something called a filter?”

I mentally put him in the “Best appreciated in small doses” category.

Then life did what it often does. It gave me the chance to know him a little better.

One conversation became another. A dinner became an outing at a brewery. Our shared love for cinema meant our paths crossed more often. We also found ourselves on the same cinephiles WhatsApp group where many a spirited debate was led by Jishnu. He argued passionately, challenged everyone, rarely agreed with the majority, and yet it was never personal. He could disagree with your opinion without disagreeing with you.

Slowly, the layers began to peel away.

Behind the booming voice, relentless arguments and delightfully contrarian views, I discovered a razor sharp intellect, a fiercely generous spirit, and someone who genuinely cared about people. Hidden beneath all that gruffness was an unexpectedly sensitive, deeply emotional heart.

The moment that has stayed with me came when my daughter moved to Bengaluru.

Without a second thought, he invited us over. Over dinner, he spent time talking to the ‘one with the growing her wings’. Not to lecture her or tell her what to do, but to encourage her to embrace the city, say yes to new experiences, meet people, explore, and make Bengaluru her own.

Then he turned to me, the anxious mother, and simply said, “Don’t worry. She’ll be absolutely fine. Let her fly. And if she ever needs anything, I’m just around the corner.”

It’s amazing how a single sentence can lighten a parent’s heart.

Somewhere along the way, we also discovered we had an embarrassing number of mutual friends from Calcutta, including his closest friend, Samir Ganghar. (Am sure they are outrageously happy to see each other in the plane above) Clearly, the Universe had been trying to introduce us properly for years.

I’ve learnt that people come wrapped in all kinds of packaging.

Some are polished. Some are prickly. Some simply ask that you stay long enough to discover who they really are.

If you’re patient enough to unwrap them, you may discover a heart of gold underneath.

Jishnu, thank you for proving that the best characters are the ones you completely misread in the opening scene.

I can’t say Rest in Peace.

By now, think I know you a little better to say ‘Thrive in chaos and arguments!’