Irrfan Khan, an Indian film actor known for his work in Bollywood, as well as British and Hollywood films, left an indelible mark on the world of cinema. The Bollywood actor His versatile and natural acting made him one of the finest actors in Indian cinema.
This blog post aims to delve into the life and career of this remarkable actor, shedding light on his early life, personal relationships, rise to stardom, career highlights, and some lesser-known facts about him.
Early Life and Upbringing
Irrfan Khan was born into a Muslim Pathan family in Jaipur, Rajasthan. His father, Jagirdar Khan, was a wealthy Zamindar who ran a tyre business, and his mother, Begum Khan, belonged to the Tonk hakim family.
Irrfan was a shy child and was often scolded by his teachers for not speaking up in class. He was interested in cricket and played a lot of it during his childhood. However, his parents were not too keen on him pursuing a career in cricket.
Personal Life – Age, Zodiac Sign
| Personal Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Sahabzade Irfan Ali Khan |
| Nickname | Irrfan |
| Alternative Names(s) (also known as) | Irrfan Khan |
| Date of Birth | 7 January 1967 |
| Age (as of 2023) | 56 years (deceased) |
| Religion | Islam |
| Zodiac Sign | Capricorn |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Birthplace | Jaipur, Rajasthan, India |
| Hometown | Khajuriya Village, Tonk District, Rajasthan, India |
| Current Address | N/A |
| Education Qualification | Diploma in Dramatic Arts from National School of Drama (NSD), New Delhi |
| Hobbies and Interests | Reading, Playing Cricket |
| Languages Known | Hindi, English, Urdu |
| Social Media Profiles link (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) | Facebook, Instagram, Twitter |
| Wikipedia Profile link | Irrfan Khan |
| IMDb Profile link | Irrfan Khan |
| Website link | N/A |
Physical Appearance – Height, Weight, Body Measurements
| Physical Stats | Information |
|---|---|
| Body Type | Slim |
| Body Measurements (Chest – Waist – Hips) | N/A |
| Height in feet, inches, cm | 6’0″, 183 cm |
| Weight in kg, lbs | 75 kg, 165 lbs |
| Chest | 40 inches |
| Waist | 33 inches |
| Biceps | 12 inches |
| Eye Colour | Dark Brown |
| Hair Colour | Black |
| Hairstyle | Short and Curly |
| Distinctive Features | Deep Voice, Intense Eyes |
| Tattoos | N/A |
Family and Relationships – Girlfriend/Wife, Affairs
Irrfan Khan married Sutapa Sikdar, a dialogue writer and fellow NSD student, in 1995. The couple has two sons: Ayaan Khan and Babil Khan.
Sutapa Sikdar is an Indian Film Producer, Dialogue Writer, and Screenplay Writer, and she has been a part of many famous movies.
| Relationships Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouse – Wife | Sutapa Sikdar (Dialogue writer) |
| Father | Yaseen Ali Khan (Tyre Businessman) |
| Mother | Saeeda Begum Khan (Homemaker) |
| Children | Babil Khan (Son), Ayan Khan (Son) |
| Siblings | Rukhsana Begum (Sister), Salman Khan (Brother), Imran Khan (Brother) |
| Affairs – Girlfriend(s) | N/A |
| Significant Relationships | N/A |
Rise to Stardom
Irrfan Khan made his on-screen debut with the film “Salaam Bombay!” in 1988. However, his role was shortened as his height was being an issue. He then appeared in a variety of television shows in the late 1980s to 1990s, including playing ʽAbd al-Qadir Badayuni in Bharat Ek Khoj (1988), Makhdoom Mohiuddin in Kahkashan (1991), Vladimir Lenin in Lal Ghas Per Neele Ghodey (1992), a dual role in Chandrakanta (1994), and Valmiki in Jai Hanuman (1997).
Irrfan found his television work unfulfilling and considered quitting acting. His career experienced a turnaround with his breakthrough role as the lead in Asif Kapadia’s “The Warrior” (2001), which won the BAFTA Award for Outstanding British Film. He followed this with critically acclaimed villainous roles in “Haasil” and “Maqbool” (both in 2003).
For the former performance, where he played a devious politician, Khan received the Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role. In 2006, Khan portrayed a first-generation Bengali immigrant in the Nair-directed film “The Namesake” with Tabu and a hitman in “The Killer”.
The following year, he won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as a 38-year-old man waiting to marry the right woman in “Life in a… Metro,” directed by Anurag Basu. In 2008, he received international recognition for his role as a police inspector in Danny Boyle’s “Slumdog Millionaire,” which won the Academy Award for Best Picture.
Khan played the eponymous athlete-turned-bandit in “Paan Singh Tomar” and the adult version of the title character in Ang Lee’s “Life of Pi” (both in 2012). For the former, he won the National Film Award for Best Actor; the latter was a critically acclaimed commercial success. In 2013, he portrayed a widower who pursues an epistolary romance with a married woman in “The Lunchbox” with Nimrat Kaur.
The film, which he also produced, was a commercial success and received critical acclaim. Three years later, he played supporting roles in “Haider,” “Jurassic World,” “Piku,” and the television miniseries “Tokyo Trial,” in which he portrayed the jurist Radhabinod Pal.
In 2017, his performance as a father trying to get a place for his daughter in an elite English-medium school in “Hindi Medium” garnered him the Filmfare Award for Best Actor and also became his highest-grossing Hindi release. Khan starred as a widower in “Angrezi Medium” (2020).
It was to be his final role as he died later in the same year, aged 53. He posthumously won Best Actor and Lifetime Achievement at the 66th Filmfare Awards.
Irrfan Khan – Debut Film – Salaam Bombay (1988)
Irrfan Khan – Successful Film – Paan Singh Tomar (2012)
Career, Awards, and Achievements
In a career spanning nearly 30 years, Irrfan Khan received numerous awards, including a National Film Award and Filmfare Awards in four categories. In 2011, he was awarded the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian honor, for his contribution to the field of arts.
His highest-grossing Hindi film release came with the critically acclaimed comedy-drama Hindi Medium (2017), which became a sleeper hit in India and China.
| Career Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Profession(s) | Actor, Producer |
| Debut Film | Salaam Bombay (1988) |
| Notable Roles | Maqbool in Maqbool (2004), Monty in Life in a… Metro (2007), Paan Singh Tomar in Paan Singh Tomar (2011), Rana Chaudhary in Piku (2015), Raj Batra in Hindi Medium (2017) |
| Recent Films – New Movies | Angrezi Medium (2020), Karwaan (2018), Blackmail (2018) |
| Upcoming Films | N/A |
| Popular Television Series | Bharat Ek Khoj (1988), Chanakya (1991), Banegi Apni Baat (1993), In Treatment (2010) |
| Awards and Achievements | Padma Shri (2011), National Film Award for Best Actor for Paan Singh Tomar (2013), Filmfare Awards in four categories, Asian Film Award for Best Actor for The Lunchbox (2014), Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award (2021) |
| Endorsements/Brand Collaborations | Syska LED, Mastercard, Lava Mobiles, Envy Deodorants, CEAT Tyres, IndiaMART |
| Philanthropy/Charity Work | Supported The Cancer Patients Aid Association, Donated to the Kerala Flood Relief Fund, Participated in the NDTV Greenathon Campaign |
| Professional Associations | Member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Member of the International Indian Film Academy |
| Training and Education | Studied at National School of Drama (NSD), New Delhi |
| Production Company | IK Company |
| Box Office Success – Hit Movies | Slumdog Millionaire (2008), Life of Pi (2012), Jurassic World (2015), Hindi Medium (2017) |
| Critical Acclaim Movies | The Namesake (2006), The Lunchbox (2013), Talvar (2015), Qarib Qarib Single (2017) |
Assets and Finances – Net Worth
| Financial Profile | Information |
|---|---|
| Net Worth in Rs. and Dollars | Rs. 321 Crore, $ 50 Million |
| Per Movie Charges in Rs. and Dollars | Rs. 12-15 Crore, $ 1.6-2 Million |
| Per Endorsement Charges in Rs. and Dollars | Rs. 2-3 Crore, $ 0.3-0.4 Million |
| Sponsorship Deals | Syska LED, Mastercard, Lava Mobiles, Envy Deodorants, CEAT Tyres, IndiaMART |
| Business Ventures | IK Company (Production Company) |
| Investments | N/A |
| Real Estate Holdings | A 5th floor apartment in Oshiwara, Mumbai |
| Luxury Items/Properties Owned | N/A |
| Cars Collection | Toyota Land Cruiser, BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz S-Class |
Favorite Things, Likes and Dislikes
| Favorite Things | Information |
|---|---|
| Favorite Actor | Philip Seymour Hoffman, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Marlon Brando |
| Favorite Actress | Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Madhuri Dixit |
| Favorite Film | The Godfather (1972), The Shawshank Redemption (1994), The Matrix (1999) |
| Favorite Music Bands | Pink Floyd, Coldplay, Led Zeppelin |
| Favorite Sport | Cricket |
| Favorite Books | The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, The Stranger by Albert Camus, Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie |
| Favorite Color | Black |
| Favorite Food | Rogan Josh, Butter Chicken, Dal Baati |
| Things s/he like | Acting, Travelling, Reading |
| Things s/he dislike | Hypocrisy, Superstition, Stereotypes |
Top 5 Best Films – Irrfan Khan
| Film Name | Year of Release | Character Played |
|---|---|---|
| Paan Singh Tomar | 2012 | Paan Singh Tomar |
| The Lunchbox | 2013 | Saajan Fernandes |
| Talvar | 2015 | Ashwin Kumar |
| Hindi Medium | 2017 | Raj Batra |
| Maqbool | 2003 | Miyan Maqbool |
Controversies – Irrfan Khan
Irrfan Khan landed in a controversy in 2016 over his remarks on ‘Qurbani’ on Eid-al-Adha.
Interesting Facts – Irrfan Khan
- Irrfan Khan was born to a Muslim Pathan family in Rajasthan.
- His real name was Sahabzade Irfan Ali Khan.
- He was interested in a career in cricket, however, his parents were not too keen on it.
- When he arrived in Mumbai, he started working as an air condition repair man.
- He debuted in the year 1988 in the Academy Award nominated movie Salaam Bombay.
- He was awarded the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian honor for his contribution to the field of arts.
In conclusion, Irrfan Khan’s life and career serve as an inspiration for many aspiring actors. His journey from a small town in Rajasthan to the glitz and glamour of Bollywood and Hollywood is a testament to his talent, hard work, and dedication.
He will always be remembered as a versatile actor who brought depth and authenticity to every role he played. His legacy continues to live on through his memorable performances and contributions to the world of cinema.
