Bollywood's Irrfan Khan leaves a lasting legacy

Indian National Award-winning actor and cancer warrior Irrfan Khan, whose films are a masterclass in splendid seamless acting, died in Mumbai after battling a medical complication arising from colon infection.

The 53-year-old actor is survived by his wife Sutapa Sikdar and two sons Babil and Ayan.

Khan has appeared in more than 100 Hindi films has charted a fruitful career filled with cinematic gems in Bollywood and Hollywood.

Be it his turn as the erudite, immigrant father in director Mira Nair’s ‘The Namesake’ or playing the ruthless rebel in gangster epic ‘Paan Singh Tomar’ or the ageing widower in the sumptuous romance ‘The Lunchbox’, Khan had the power to inject grace and gravitas into any role that he took on.

He wasn’t willing to limit his acting and art to Hindi films alone. He has worked in Hollywood films including ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ in which he played a cop and ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’, ‘Jurrassic World’ and director Ang Lee’s celebrated film ‘Life Of Pi’.

The actor even brought his movies to the Dubai International Film Festival and Abu Dhabi Film Film Festival in the past.

Khan, who was honoured with the highest civilian honour Padma Shri in 2011, wasn’t handsome like Hrithik Roshan nor could he romance women with the smoothness of a suave Shah Rukh Khan but made up with his acting talent.

Born in Jaipur into a Muslim family, Khan didn’t hail from an influential acting dynasty. His fame and fortune were derived from his immaculate command over his craft. A scholarship student of the Indian National School Of Drama, Khan began his career in the entertainment industry with hit television serials including ‘Banegi Apni Baat’.

From playing an ageing bachelor in road trip film ‘Piku’ to playing a cold-blooded villain in ‘Haasil’, Khan was that proverbial chameleon on the big screen. He took on the colours of his on-screen characters and had the ability to leave a lasting impression.

In one of his last interviews of his career with this journalist, Khan spoke about how his tryst with cancer had caught him by surprise. But he didn’t let the disease define him.