by ASJAD NAZIR
ACCLAIMED actor Irrfan Khan passed away on April 29 last year, at the age of 53, after a long battle with illness.
One of the most successful Indian actors in international projects, Irrfan left behind an impressive body of work that will continue to delight audiences across the world for generations to come.
To mark his one-year death anniversary, Eastern Eye revisits the top 10 movies where he had a prominent role and delivered a stunning performance.
The Warrior (2001): The award-winning British movie revolves around a warrior in feudal Rajasthan trying to give up the sword and find peace. The star-making drama, directed by Asif Kapadia, received global acclaim and convinced Irrfan to not give up on acting.
Maqbool (2003): The critically acclaimed Bollywood adaptation of legendary theatre play Macbeth received praise right across the board. The contemporary story set in the Mumbai underworld boasts stand-out performances from a talented cast led by Irrfan Khan. The gritty drama would lead director Vishal Bhardwaj to make further Bollywood adaptations of William Shakespeare classics.
A Mighty Heart (2007): The actor followed up a stunning turn in Hollywood film The Namesake in 2006 with this English language drama opposite Angelina Jolie based on real-life events. The story about a wife trying to find her missing husband, who was kidnapped in Karachi, is a gripping film loaded with emotion.
Paan Singh Tomar (2012): The widely acclaimed film won multiple honours including a National Best Actor award for Irrfan. The gripping story based on a real events revolves around a gold-medal winning athlete who is forced by circumstances to become a notorious outlaw. Many regard this power-packed multilayered performance as the actor’s finest.
The Lunchbox (2013): The massively successful romantic drama won praise globally when it was released and clocked up huge numbers at the box office. The simple story revolves around two unconnected individuals in Mumbai being linked by a wrongly delivered tiffin box and starting a unique relationship which offers them both hope.
Piku (2015): The multi-award-winning movie revolves around the relationship between a father (Amitabh Bachchan) and his daughter (Deepika Padukone), but Irrfan also plays a key role as the driver who goes on a road trip with them. The comedy-drama with a big heart explores a range of emotions and has plenty of laughs.
Talvar (2015): The acclaimed thriller-drama based on real-life events is a police procedural, trying to find the killer of a teenage girl. The actor delivers a stunning performance as a senior investigator called in to unravel the mystery after the police mess things up. Meghna Gulzar directs the gripping drama rooted in reality.
Inferno (2016): Irrfan delivered winning performances in hit Hollywood films The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) and Jurassic World (2015), which are both worth watching, but in Inferno he had a more significant role. He starred opposite Tom Hanks in the twist-laden mystery thriller based on a best-selling book, which clocked up big box-office numbers.
Hindi Medium (2017): The biggest sleeper hit of that year earned multiple accolades and spawned a 2020 sequel (Angrezi Medium). The comedy-drama revolves around dedicated parents who will do whatever it takes to get their young daughter into a school that will help them rise in society, including a drastic decision that will eventually change their lives forever.
Puzzle (2018): The sparkling Hollywood gem is based on a 2010 Argentine film of the same name. The story of a taken-for-granted housewife who finds a new lease of life in jigsaws is a wonderfully quirky comedy-drama. Irrfan plays the championship jigsaw competitor who gives her hope again in a movie that will surprise viewers on multiple levels.
