Irrfan Khan, one of India’s best actors, passed away on April 29th, 2020, leaving a wide range of performances. Khan also crossed over into Hollywood, playing memorable roles in blockbusters and indies. His work was always elegant, dignified and committed, rarely ever turning in a poor performance. Khan possessed an impressive body of work including iconic roles in Maqbool, Paan Singh Tomar, and The Lunchbox. Here are some of my favorites of his movies, from both India and overseas.
Billu (2009)
Khan stars as Billu, a poor barber living in a small village in India. Once Billu says he was childhood friends with Bollywood superstar Sahir Khan (Shah Rukh Khan), the whole village starts to treat him differently when Sahir comes to the village to film his next film. This film is heartwarming and funny; it both pokes fun at and empathizes with Indian celebrity worship culture. Khan brings such a delicacy to his performance. He is just a simple man, trying to live his life while everyone is excitable round him. His resolve and humility are what makes Billu an endearing character; he is always himself.
Life in a Metro (2007)
In this ensemble drama about citizens of Mumbai and their problems, Khan plays Monty, a man who’s a bit of a dweeb. He dresses funny, he’s kind of awkward, and he also doesn’t know how to interact with women. He matches with Shruti (Konkona Sensharma) on a dating web site, though he messes up their date. They find themselves together again and develop an honest, sweet friendship. Khan underplays his character, and plays him without judgment. He reveals a compassion and insight as the film goes on and shows to be someone who can learn to be better.
Life of Pi (2012)
Ang Lee’s adventure movie about a boy lost at sea with a tiger is one of the best movies of 2010s. Khan plays the protagonist Pi Patel as an adult, with Suraj Sharma playing the younger Patel for the majority of the film. Khan doesn’t have a lot of screen time; he provides the framing device and voiceover narration. However, his impact in the film should not be underestimated. His soothing but forceful voice introduces the film’s epic scale while his line delivery coats the film with grandeur. Khan is both wry and philosophical, lending the film humor and solemnity. It’s a tender performance, with gravitas and sincerity.
The Namesake (2006)
Mira Nair’s adaptation of Jhumpa Lahiri saw Khan starring as Ashoke, a man who brings his family to the U.S. from India with his wife Ashima (Tabu). As the family adjust to living in America the culture clashes between the adults and the children reveal how family members can begin to see each other as people. Khan’s gentle, wise performance is the soul of the film. He is so patient and loving. He and Tabu share a warm, comfortable chemistry. as they anchor the film with their vulnerability and yet their strength and determination to make better lives for their family are inspiring and wrenching.
Piku (2015)
In this road trip dramedy, Irrfan Khan plays Rana, a driver who is hired to drive Piku (Deepika Padukone) and her cantankerous father Bhashkor (Amitabh Bachchan) from Delhi to Kolkata. Khan is very sardonic in this film, with little patience for this squabbling father/daughter duo. He is so prickly and sarcastic, but underneath a genuinely good guy who comes to care for Piku and Bhashkor. This is my favorite role of his because of his charm and sensitivity, even though he puts on a rough exterior. Rana is probably what Khan is closest to in real life, genuinely a good guy but maybe with a slight wink.
Follow me on Twitter and Letterboxd.
Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter or Instagram or like us on Facebook. Also subscribe to our YouTube channel.
