10 times Irrfan Khan left us spellbound with his performance

By Anam Shaikh -

April 29, 2020 - 2:01 PM IST

The industry lost a gem today as we woke up to the news of the demise of Irrfan Khan. The actor, 54, suffered from a colon infection and was admitted in Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital for the past couple of days. After his last release, Angrezi Medium, he was asked not to shoot for a few months since it wasn’t long before he suffered from a neuroendocrine tumour. The actor was known for his realistic and impeccable performance which left us all speechless. Not just in Bollywood, Irrfan Khan also aced in Hollywood and has starred in some massive projects including The Amazing Spiderman, Inferno, Life Of Pi, and Jurassic World to name a few.

10 times Irrfan Khan left us spellbound with his performance

An ode to the impeccable and irreplaceable actor, let’s take a look at some of his best performances and remember him for what he did best.

1. Maqbool (2003)

Maqbool, directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, will forever be etched in our minds with Irrfan Khan and Tabu playing the lead roles. the story was based around William Shakespeare’s Macbeth with Mumbai’s underworld as the backdrop. Even though the film did not do well at the box office, the script brought out the best in the actors and even got the director international recognition. Irrfan’s performance as a don’s henchman who falls in love with his boss’ daughter is truly commendable.

2. The Namesake (2006)

Based on a book by Jhumpa Lahiri, The Namesake was quite an unusual script of its time. Unlike most of the book’s adaptations, this film did not lose the essence of the book and it yet again saw Irrfan Khan and Tabu in pivotal roles. Even though Kal Penn was the actual lead of the film, Irrfan Khan’s screen presence left us all mind-blown. Playing the role of a migrant from West Bengal in United states, as usual, Irrfan Khan got the diction and nuances on point.

3. New York (2009)

New York had Irrfan Khan playing the role of an agent trying to catch hold of a terrorist gang in the city. Playing the role of Agent Roshan, Irrfan was seen working closely with Neil Nitin Mukesh’s character and we’re all aware of how no one does intense roles like Irrfan! He proved yet again that he was a gem to this industry in this Kabir Khan directorial.

4. Billu (2009)

Billu was the first film where Shah Rukh Khan played the role of a second lead. Revolving around two long lost best friends, Billu celebrated friendship in its purest forms. The film is still one of the evergreen ones and one of the major reasons behind it is Irrfan’s acting that left us on the verge of tears. Irrfan Khan is known to get into the skin of his characters very quickly and it showed.

5. The Lunchbox (2013)

A heartwarming story starring Irrfan Khan and Nimrat Kaur, an accidental letter in a dabba ignites a beautiful friendship that leaves two strangers sharing memories and instances with each other. The Lunchbox showcased unadulterated friendship that moves on to something unexplainable with two of the brilliant actors of the industry. Even though it was underrated film, their performances were certainly otherwise.

6. Piku (2015)

Deepika Padukone and Irrfan Khan were seen sharing the screen space for the first time with Piku. The movie was about Amitabh Bachchan and Deepika Padukone’s roadtrip to Kolkata from Delhi, in a turn of events, Irrfan Khan has to drive them to their destination and it saw a lot of ups and downs. Irrfan Khan’s humourous side was beautifully explored in this film.

7. Hindi Medium (2017)

Highlighting the importance of education, Irrfan Khan’s struggle in Hindi Medium as a father trying to get the best education for his daughter was the highlight of this film. Facing all the ups and downs with a smile on his face, his character in the film resembled his own self to a great extent.

8. Qarib Qarib Singlle (2017)

Playing the role of a poet and author, Irrfan Khan’s spontaneity to start using a dating app and asking his date to accompany him on a trip won a lot of hearts of the audience. Some of the poems recited by him in the film hit the right chords in our hearts. Qarib Qarib Singlle is yet another underrated film that deserved much more recognition.

9. Karwaan (2018)

Marking Dulquer Salman’s Bollywood debut, Karwaan yet again explored a humourous side of Irrfan Khan with a disturbing childhood. His one lines and nuances had us giggling and looking at him in awe from time to time.

10. Angrezi Medium (2020)

Last seen in this Homi Adajania directorial, Irrfan Khan struggled to help his daughter study in London for her higher studies. Exploring the relationships shared by kids and their parents, Angrezi Medium left us teary eyed with Irrfan Khan’s moving performance.

As we say goodbye to the legend and maestro, we second across our deepest condolences to the family. May his soul rest in peace.

Also Read: Actor Irrfan Khan passes away at 54