Irrfan Khan 1967 - 2020

Actor Irrfan Khan has passed away at 53. 

A star of India’s TV and Bollywood who successfully transitioned to American blockbusters, Khan was on his way to an athletic career in first-class cricket, but could not play in a stepping-stone tournament due to a lack of funds. He completed his MA in Jaipur, India, before joining the National School of Drama in New Delhi in 1984 to study acting. 

After a brief stint in television, he made his film debut in the Oscar-nominated SALAAM BOMBAY, in a cameo-role. He went back to TV for another decade, and after a few unsuccessful films, had his breakthrough role in 2001 in the BAFTA winner, THE WARRIOR. His first Bollywood role came in 2005 with the film ROG, with his performance praised by critics. 

He moved over to American and international cinema with roles in Oscar-winning films such as Danny Boyle’s SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE (2008), Ang Lee’s LIFE OF PI (2012), and the acclaimed THE LUNCHBOX (2013). He appeared in blockbuster films such as THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (2012), JURASSIC WORLD (2015), and INFERNO (2016). He would also appear as a grieving father in Wes Anderson’s THE DARJEELING LIMITED in 2007. 

His career included four wins for Best Actor from the Filmfare Awards; honoring artistic achievements in the Hindi-language of India. He took home a Screen Actors Guild Award when SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE was honored for Best Ensemble. 

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This Blogger had never been a fan of Bollywood. As a Wes Anderson fan, my introduction to Irrfan Khan was in THE DARJEELING LIMITED, which was set in India. Khan’s role, which was that of a grieving father, is one of the emotional high points of the film. He had very few lines to speak and was asked to convey his grief physically. It is an excellent, and heartbreaking performance that is just a hint of what the man was capable of. As time went by and he popped up in more American blockbusters, he seemed to make every movie just a little bit better, and it was always a treat to see him. His diverse talent had the potential to do arthouse and big-budget films, and it is possible he could have done so much more if time allowed; maybe a Bond villain or a Marvel character, or a chance to take home an Oscar. Time can be cruel, but it can be gracious, and it was gracious enough to give us Irrfan Khan.