by Nathaniel R
The very last screen shot of Irrfan Khan in the cinema. From the film Angrezi Medium (2020). (Hat tip)
In truly terrible news the great Indian actor Irrfan Khan has died of cancer at just 53 years of age. His passing came just four days after his own mother passed away... though he was well enough a month ago to be tweeting and supporting what would become his last picture Angrezi Medium.
The international star had recently headlined the popularPuzzle (2018) co-starring Kelly Macdonald but he was diagnosed with cancer that year and hadn't been working much since. The beloved Bollywood star actually began his big screen career in an Oscar nominated film. It was Mira Nair's breakthrough Salaam Bombay (1988) which became India's first Oscar nominee in the Foreign-Language Film category. A success in Bollywood in the 1990s, Irrfan crossed over into international stardom in the mid Aughts with a series of fine performances in well received English language films...
His cameo in the Oscar-nominated classic "Salaam Bombay" (thank you for the image, Joy)
In "A Mighty Heart" with Archie Panjabi and Angelina Jolie
His films that made it to the US included The Namesake (2006), The Darjeeling Limited (2007), A Mighty Heart (2007, for which he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at this very site!), New York I Love You (2008), and Slumdog Millionaire (2008). More recent credits have included tv roles in Tokyo Trial (2016) and In Treatment (2010) and supporting parts in both the Oscar winning Life of Pi (2012) and the mega smash Jurassic World (2015) as well as the leading role in festival / arthouse favourite The Lunchbox (2013). His acclaimed Hindi language performances include but are not limited to Haasil (2003), Life in a Metro (2007), Seven Sins Forgiven (2011), Paan Singh Tomar (2012), and Haider (2014).
Those souful weary eyes, his unmistakable acting chops, and the specificity of his warm big screen charisma... oh how he will be missed.
As we mourn, here are some shout outs and honors that are pouring in online. He was widely loved and admired.
This quote about Irrfan Khan from Tom Hanks is one hell of an honorific. pic.twitter.com/rwnrVFl0nI
— Bekka (@valhallabckgirl) April 29, 2020
Rest in peace IrrfanKhan sir
— kathir (@am_kathir) April 29, 2020
You will always be missed
but u still live in hearts of millions.. #RIPIrrfanKhan pic.twitter.com/gWOHNfvwBU
Rest in peace one of the greatest actors of our time, Irrfan Khan. I never met him but he was an inspiration and a hero to me and millions of others. His work was consistently transcendent, he was a guiding light for so many of us. pic.twitter.com/BwobeLvNLn
— Riz Ahmed (@rizwanahmed) April 29, 2020
A grateful fan of #IrrfanKhan here. Gone too soon. When he is on screen, you can’t take your eyes off of him. He lives on in his films. pic.twitter.com/aA9RAjsxSl
— Ava DuVernay (@ava) April 29, 2020
I met Irrfan Khan when he worked with @JacindaBarrett on The Namesake. One of the most pleasant, down to earth, and gentle beings in the few times I had with him. What a beautiful actor as well. Blessings to he and his family. #RIPIrrfanKhan https://t.co/R2CYNP6Sks
— Gabriel Macht (@GabrielMacht) April 29, 2020
Deeply sad to have lost #IrrfanKhan. A thoughtful man who found beauty in the world around him, even in pain. In our last correspondence, he asked me to remember “the wonderful aspects of our existence” in the darkest of days. Here he is, laughing. pic.twitter.com/8eAsSOO9Ie
— Colin Trevorrow (@colintrevorrow) April 29, 2020
The loss of Irrfan Khan - at such a young age - is devastating. He was my favorite actor. I can’t think of someone who gave such layered and thoughtful performances but was also a movie star; you couldn’t take your eyes off of him onscreen. Love and peace to his family. pic.twitter.com/OjwhNgXgJu
— Mindy Kaling (@mindykaling) April 29, 2020
".....not taking a moment to say Goodbye" .
— Sudarsan Pattnaik (@sudarsansand) April 29, 2020
Sandy tribute to the legendary Bollywood Actor #IrrfanKhan . My SandArt at Puri beach in Odisha. pic.twitter.com/xxLUikjtXk