Irrfan Khan death anniversary: A look at his best films to remember the iconic actor by

One of the most versatile actors in Indian cinema as well as Hollywood, Irrfan Khan, passed away on April 29, 2020. The actor had been battling cancer for a few years and died due to complications arising from the illness.

Born on January 7, 1967, in Tonk, Rajasthan, India, Irrfan Khan built a remarkable repertoire in world cinema and Bollywood. He was honoured with the National Film Award, the Asian Film Award, and six Filmfare Awards. He was awarded the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian honour, and a posthumous Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in addition to his earlier Filmfare trophies.

Here’s a look at five of Irrfan Khan’s best films:

The Song of Scorpions: The 2017 Hollywood film released in India on April 28, 2023. Better late than never, as the film has got rave reviews from critics for its beauty and the performance of Irrfan. The foreign production is one of Irrfan’s finest films. It also stars Waheeda Rehman and Golshifteh Farahani and is directed by Anup Singh.

The Namesake: The 2007 film based on Jhumpa Lahiri’s book of the same name has Irrfan as Indian immigrant Ashoke, with Tabu as his wife and Kal Penn as his son. The film is about the journey and struggles of Indo-Americans of Bengali origin. Irrfan delivers an unforgettable performance.

Maqbool: When we think of the onscreen pair of Irrfan and Tabu, the 2003 film Maqbool immediately comes to mind. Irrfan played Miyan Maqbool to perfection in the Vishal Bhardwaj adaptation of William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth.

Haider: Another film that had Irrfan and Tabu but not opposite each other is the 2014 Haider, directed by Vishal Bhardwaj. The film, adapted from William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, had a special appearance by Irrfan as a (spoiler) ghost, but he stole the show in those mystic moments.

The Lunchbox: Widely regarded as one of the best films of Irrfan’s career, The Lunchbox told the story of a friendship between a middle-aged man and a housewife. Irrfan played Saajan Fernandes who develops a friendship with Ila (Nimrat Kaur) over letters in a lunchbox.

Irrfan's humility and beliefs

Irrfan Khan was the most humble human being, in spite of his laurels. His achievements never came in the way of his friendships. He also had unconventional beliefs about marriage, birthday celebrations, and animal sacrifice in the name of festivals.

FAQs:

Q1:What type of cancer did Irrfan Khan have?
Irrfan had a rare Neuroendocrine cancer that affects the specialized cells of the body.

Q2:What happened to Irrfan Khan and how did he die?
Actor Irrfan Khan was suffering from cancer and died from a colon infection during treatment.