The world woke up to a sad news on 29 April, 2020.
It lost one of its finest – Irrfan Khan – an actor, an artist, an inspiration.
As if the world wasn’t already a dark place right now, it got gloomier.
Though we never met, the loss of Irrfan Khan feels personal. Words fail to describe the heartbreaking & numbing feeling of losing someone who made such an impact.
His was a face I recognized way before he graced the big screens.
My first memory of Irrfan Khan is from the 90’s show on Zee TV Banegi Apni Baat – a show I never failed to watch after school. Today, I don’t remember what role he played, but I remember him!
Scene from Banegi Apni BaatHe appeared in several TV shows in that decade and even did some Bollywood films, but Maqbool [2003] made him an overnight star. It earned him the success an artist deserves.
In an adaptation of Macbeth by Shakespeare, Khan played the titular role as a right-hand man of a don, who had an affair with the latter’s mistress. A man torn between love, ambition, duty and guilt. This was probably the first time we witnessed an actor who could emote beautifully with his silence. No over-the-top theatrics, lengthy dialogues, ‘heroic’ fight scenes… just a piercing gaze.
Scene from MaqboolHe was a natural. He was authentic.
He went on to make great films and own every character he played. Whether it was a geeky man named Monty in Life in a Metro [2007], a family man in The Namesake [2007], an insecure and reserved barber in Billu [2009], a survivor in Life of Pi [2012], a lonely widower Saajan Fernandes in The Lunchbox [2013], a simple businessman Rana Chaudhary in Piku [2015], a happy-go-lucky and blunt Yogi in Qarib Qarib Singlle [2017], a bitter husband in Blackmail [2017] or a broken man Shaukat in Karwaan [2018]… he lived every character.
I haven’t watched his last film Angrezi Medium [2020] yet, but remember admiring his brilliance from a dialogue in the trailer where he promises to take his daughter abroad – “jayenge beta, jayenge.” With just three words, I knew him, I understood his character, I knew that person – a loving and protective father of a young daughter with dreams. That’s exactly how my father is – and that’s the power of a great actor who has the ability to bring a character alive with just three words.
Scene from Angrezi MediumI can go on and on about his work, dedication and sincerity, how he redefined “heroism” in Hindi cinema, struggled to make a mark in theatre, TV and films, broke barriers, and received global recognition … but it’s not enough.
I wish we had crossed paths. I wish we could’ve shared stories about his adventures in the big world of entertainment. I wish we could just chat about things that move him. I wish…
Irrfan Sir, it feels odd remembering you in an article or a post. Hope this reaches you along with the million wishes from everyone you’ve moved with your art, your smile, your wit, your humor and your simplicity. Wish there was another way – I want to take this moment to say goodbye.
Scene from Life of PiThank you for the memories, thank you for the movies, thank you for the magic!
[2 / 5]
