In his 35 years of an acting career, Irrfan Khan did it all. Not only in Indian Cinema, but he also put his leg into Hollywood, working in some of the greatest films there. He won Padma Shri, one of the most India’s fourth-highest civilian honors. He was considered the most versatile actor in Indian Cinema.
The actor was born on 7th January 1967. On the occasion of his birth anniversary, below are some of the finest films of the late actor.
1. Maqbool (2003)
Director- Vishal Bhardwaj
Jahangir Khan, often known as “Abbaji,” is a prominent and influential Mumbai (India’s term for Bombay)-based mobster. He is involved in a variety of illegal operations. He has never been caught thanks to the cooperation of two prophesying cops (and their links to national politicians). Also, he continues to live his life believing that money and bribes will help him succeed. When his mistress, Nimmi, has an affair with one of his soldiers, Maqbool, who aspires to succeed Abbaji one day, things get ugly. Things come to a head when Maqbool assassinates Abbaji, and his ambitions come true. When he ascends to the position of underworld leader, unaware that he, too, has become a target of another section of Abbaji’s men.
2. The Namesake (2006)
Director- Mira Nair
In 1977, Ashoke proposes marriage to Ashima, a young Bengali woman. He’s a student studying overseas, so she follows him to New York following the wedding, where their temporary residency turns permanent. We witness her navigating and adapting to this strange new environment. Their son is named Nikhil, with the nickname Gogol after Ashoke’s favorite author. We see Gogol grow up in America, with origins he only realizes when he visits India in his twenties. A family loss hastens his acceptance of his name (and his heritage), as well as Ashima’s decision on where she would live once she has one.
3. Life Of Pi (2012)
Director- Ang lee
Pi Patel, an Indian storyteller, is interviewed by an aspiring Canadian novelist who wants to hear about his stories firsthand. Pi describes his childhood in French-controlled India, where his father ran a zoo. After Pi’s family’s business fails, they set sail for Canada to start a new life. However, a fierce and fatal storm smashes their Japanese cargo ship in the middle of the ocean one night, sinking nearly everything Pi loves dear. He and some of their zoo animals, including a dangerous Bengal tiger, survive on a lifeboat. Pi and the tiger form a surprising bond in their quest to survive, giving him daily inspiration to live.
4. 7 Khoon Maaf (2011)
Director- Vishal Bhardwaj
Following the death of his Pondicherry-born mentor, Susanna, Mumbai-based Dr. Arun Kumar Singh tells his wife, Nalini, his story. He tells her about how Susanna found him stealing and got him to abandon his work and enroll in a Panchgani school, as well as arranging for further education in St. Petersburg, using images from an old book that he has never shared with anyone. While Susanna searched for true love, she had six marriages with men who influenced her life, broke her heart, and died mysteriously, including the abusive Major Edwin Rodrigues, drug-addicted and womanizer guitarist-singer Jamshed Singh Rathore, impotent and abusive Mohammad Wasiullah Khan, bigamist/spy Nicolai Vronsky, Inspector Keemat Lal, and Dr. Modhusodon Tarafdar.
5. Billu (2009)
Director- Priyadarshan
Billu Vilas Pardesi, a barber in Budbuda, Uttar Pradesh, barely makes ends meet. His wife, Bindiya, takes after the house, and his children, Gunja and Ronak, are about to be expelled from Gyaan Bharti Vidyalay Higher Secondary School due to non-payment of fees. Then all changes when Bollywood actor Sahir Khan arrives in town to shoot a movie. Billu becomes a superstar almost overnight after rumors circulate that he is one of Sahir’s close buddies. His shop receives donations and customers, and his children are given free education by the school. When the people of the town desire to meet with Sahir, Billu is unable to contact him.
6. Life In A Metro (2007)
Director- Anurag Basu
The daily life of a bunch of Mumbai residents: Rahul takes over his uncle’s apartment and lets rich, powerful people use it for their personal affairs; Shikha, an ignored, enraged young wife, falls into the arms of a young man named Akash who wants to act in Indian films; Shikha’s sister Shruti is having an affair with a man named Monty; Shikha’s teacher Shivani is romancing Amol; Rahul discovers that his girlfriend Neha is meeting with Shika’s husband Ranjeet.
7. The Lunchbox (2013)
Director- Ritesh Batra
Two complete strangers—the lonesome middle-aged widower, Saajan Fernandes, and the young but miserable housewife, Ila—will find their lives deliciously entwined by an odd mix-up in the infallible lunch-box delivery system of the famous Mumbai Dabbawalas. When Ila’s lavish meals intended to reclaim her husband’s devotion accidentally reach Saajan, a succession of hand-written lunch-box messages explaining the circumstances will gradually provide the groundwork for a sincere relationship, as well as a genuinely fascinating interest.
8. Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster (2011)
Director- Tigmanshu Dhulia
Following the death of his first wife, Raja Aditya Pratap Singh remarries another woman, simply known as Chhoti Rani, who becomes mentally ill. Badi Rani, his father’s previous mistress, is in charge of the money, and he himself has a mistress. After failing to secure contracts through Mantri Prabhu Tiwari, he decides to run for office, while his opponent, Ghenda Singh, hires Babalu, the nephew of Sunder, Chhoti Rani’s valet, to assassinate Aditya. Sunder suggests Babalu after he is unable to drive due to an injury, and Aditya hires him. Babalu adjusts to his new job and makes an effort to fit in with everyone, especially Chhoti Rani, whom he finds appealing. He quickly discovers that she, too, has a love for him, and he sets out to not only complete his assigned mission but also to become the next Saheb.
