Origins & Early Life

Irrfan Khan (Hindustani pronunciation: [ɪɾfɑːn xɑːn]; born Sahabzade Irfan Ali Khan; 7 January 1967 – 29 April 2020) was an Indian actor who worked in Indian cinema as well as British and American films. Widely regarded as one of the finest actors in world cinema, Khan's career spanned over 30 years and earned him numerous accolades, including a National Film Award, an Asian Film Award, and six Filmfare Awards. In 2011, he was awarded the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian honour. In 2021, he was posthumously awarded the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Khan made his film debut with a small role in Salaam Bombay! (1988), which was followed by years of struggle. He acted in a few Film and Television Institute of India student films such as Reconnaissance (1990), directed by Sandeep Chattopadhyay. Among his first Hindi movies were Drishti (1990), a film by Govind Nihalani starring Dimple Kapadia and Shekhar Kapoor, in which he had a small but prominent role, and Ek Doctor Ki Maut (also in 1990), in which he portrayed a journalist and shared a major role opposite lead players Pankaj Kapur and Shabana Azmi. After this, he acted in the British film The Warrior (2001).

Enduring Legacy & Impact

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