The untimely demise of Bollywood Actor Irrfan Khan, on April 29, took the social media by storm. With messages from fans pouring in and celebrities expressing their condolences on Twitter - it is safe to say that the industry is shattered and poorer without the man's endearing on-screen presence.
With his soft-spoken nature and well-known versatility, Irrfan has delivered several memorable movies that will stay with his audience forever. While some of his roles will be etched in our hearts permanently, here are some of his lesser-known parts that have come to light and will continue to inspire for years on:
Bharat Ek Khoj (1988): The historical drama series featuring Irrfan Khan earned him commendations for stellar performance. Amongst one of his earliest roles, he played Al Beruni of the Ghaznavid court in the series which was written and directed by acclaimed filmmaker Shyam Benegal.
Chandrakanta (1994): The fantasy TV series that brought him into the spotlight aired on DD National between the years 1994 to 1996. Irrfan played the role of twin brothers Badrinath and Somnath. Badrinath, who was Chunargarh's chief aiyyar, is fondly remembered by the show's audience for being a significant character.
Karamati Coat (1993): Irrfan's on-screen demeanour landed him a role in Karamati Coat (1993), where he starred alongside Om Raut, who is today recognised as the director of Tanhaji -The Unsung Warrior (2020). He played the role of Jaggu in the movie which went on to win an award at the International Children's Film Festival held in Frankfurt.
In Treatment (2008): Amongst his treasure trove of Bollywood filmography, Irrfan also had a brief, but impactful Hollywood appearances now and then. His role in the HBO series In Treatment highlighted his role as Sunil, a recently-widowed man with a dark, secretive past.
The Song of the Scorpions (2017): In 2017, Irrfan made headlines for his role as Aadam for The Song of the Scorpions, a Swiss-French-Singaporean independent Hindi-language drama film. The film went on to earn acclamations for its exceptional cinematography after it premiered on the Piazza Grande at the 70th Locarno Film Festival in Locarno, Switzerland.
Banegi Apni Baat (1993): Touted for being one of his most underrated performances, Banegi Apni Baat saw Irrfan Khan portraying an abusive father. The iconic series that aired between 1993 to 1997 caught the attention of many-a-critics, and several industry experts lauded his flair of acting.
Karwaan (2018): Irrfan played the beloved role of Shaukat in the Karwaan, a black comedy directed by Akarsh Khurrana. The beloved role acted as a voice of reason between the two protagonists of the film, and while the film was a sleeper hit, he managed to captivate his audience with his dialogue delivery and comic timing.
Doob, No Bed of Roses (2017): A Bangladesh-India co-production, the Bengali film was Bangladesh's Oscar entry. Irrfan, the protagonist, plays the Javed Hasan, an acclaimed filmmaker from Bangladesh. The critically acclaimed film revolves around family, love, fallout and reunion.
