A doting father, a suave billionaire, a righteous judge: Times when Irrfan Khan wowed international audience

Late actor Irrfan Khan was among the few who truly represented the calibre of Indian talent overseas. Widely admired for the realism that his characters exuded, Khan brought global attention to India.

Over a dozen international films in his short career, Irrfan truly mesmerised the global audience with his stoic presence on the silver screen.

Khan’s spectacular career was marked by several notable films that showcased his range as an actor. On his 55th birth anniversary, here is a look at the maverick actor's body of work that left an indelible mark on the minds of international audiences.


The Namesake (2006)
Khan played the quintessential Indian scholar from India who was tied deeply to his roots and customs in Bengal. Mira Nair’s adaptation of ‘The Namesake’, a novel by Jhumpa Lahiri would have been incomplete without the nuanced rendition of Khan. He played Ashok Ganguly, a sombre man who struck a balance between love and regrets through his quiet humour. Khan’s portrayal of the simmering disconnect between his character and his son is a remarkable feat. The actor’s performance got him a standing ovation at numerous international film festivals.

Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
The film that went on to bag three Academy Awards had Khan play a small yet significant role. ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ is about a youth, Jamal, who goes on to answer every question in a quiz show that offers a large prize money. Khan played the inspector who intently listens to each of the stories behind the correct answers. The role, although small, had a crucial part in the plotline. Through Khan, director Danny Boyle ensured that the audience* immersed themselves in the larger-than-life story of Jamal.

Life of Pi (2012)
Throughout his short career, Khan has brought to life numerous characters from literature through their movie adaptations. In Ang Lee’s ‘Life of Pi’, Khan played Pi Patel. Khan was the narrator in the movie that was an adaptation of a novel by the same name by Yann Martel. A scene where he talks about life and death went viral soon after his death in April 2020. The movie went on to be added to the list of Khan’s best films.

Jurrasic World (2015)
Khan had carved a niche for himself through his offbeat films and evocative performance. ‘Jurassic World’ had Khan play the suave billionaire owner of the park, Simon Masrani. As the owner of the park, Khan orders a new hybrid dinosaur to be created and what ensues largely sums up the film. Khan was seen playing a crucial role in a big-ticket commercial Hollywood movie for the first time. His short stint as a glamorous billionaire was a refreshing change from his routine outings.

In Treatment (2008)
In this American television show, Khan played Sunil Sanyal, a widower in his 50s. Khan as Sunil Sanyal, a Bengali maths professor from Kolkata, offered a different dimension into the actor's acumen. Sanyal is grieving the loss of his wife Kamala and struggling with the present. Khan brought out the subtleties of a man caught up in the conflict between his past life and the tumultuous present.

Puzzle (2018)
In Marc Turtletaub’s ‘Puzzle’, Khan played a wealthy inventor, Robert, who is drawn to a woman who is passionate about solving jigsaw puzzles. Khan as Robert was distinct from his usual characters. Robert was charismatic and impressed everyone with his sense of humour. Khan’s chemistry with actress Kelly Macdonald was the highlight of this film and earned praise from American critics.

Tokyo Trial (2017)
In 2017, Khan played Justice Pal in the four-part mini-series 'Tokyo Trial'. The series showed a panel of judges which was appointed by US Chief of Staff, General Douglas McArthur in 1946. The judges were to try leaders linked to the Japanese empire on charges of war crimes. Khan played an Indian judge who was part of the panel. Justice Pal, a judge at the Calcutta High Court, was among the dissenters in this historical drama. Like most of his other endeavours, Khan's impassioned portrayal of the judge stayed with fans for a long time.