Irrfan Khan (53) was that rare cross-over star who made a career in both Bollywood and Hollywood, making almost a hundred films in both sectors. Best known in the US for films like Life of Pi, Slumdog Millionaire, Inferno, and Jurassic Park, Khan also had supporting roles in The Amazing Spiderman, Darjeeling Limited, and the HBO show In Treatment. He believed that Hollywood gave him more opportunities compared to other Bollywood stars because “I don’t have an image to protect.”

his career with sporadic success, mostly in Indian television, as he did not fit the ideal of a Bollywood hero with fair skin and a buff body. He told the Guardian in 2013, “I came into this industry to tell stories and do cinema and I was stuck in television . . . chasing middle-class housewives and the [poor and illiterate]. Once, they didn’t even pay me because they thought my acting was so bad.”

Many years later, he would win an Independent Spirit Award for Mira Nair’s The Namesake in 2006, the first time that the immigrant Indian experience was shown onscreen in a major movie; ironically, Nair had cut practically all his scenes in 1988’s Salaam Bombay, his film debut. In an interview with the Indian magazine Open, background:white’>“I remember sobbing all night when Mira told me that my part was reduced to merely nothing. But it changed something within me. I was prepared for anything after that.”

British director Asif Kapadia cast him in his period film The Warrior, at a point when Khan was almost ready to quit the business. The film won a BAFTA for Best British Film and Khan’s international career blossomed in tandem with his work in Indian cinema, straddling both commercial and art-house films.

white’>Stereotypical roles of terrorists were constantly offered to him considering his Muslim background, and he had this to say on the subject to Vice News, “If you are exploring the subject then I am interested. But if you are cashing in on the fear of people or you’re catering to the biases of people, then it doesn’t do anything.”

white’>One of his successes in Indian cinema was the Hindi-language love story The Lunchbox, a film by Ritesh Batra that played to his strengths as a nuanced actor, masterfully revealing his character through subtext rather than through the spoken words, conveying intense emotions through stillness and restraint. In the story, the two leads never meet.

Khan had struggled with a neuroendocrine tumor since 2018. The following year he went to London for treatment which lasted almost a year. He died of cancer on April 29, 2020, in Mumbai, and his passing brought heartfelt tributes from his colleagues.

A Mighty Heart,” Angelina Jolie said in a statement. He stood out for his generosity as an artist . . . 0in;background:white;vertical-align:baseline’>Danny Boyle, who directed Khan in 2008’s Golden Globe and Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire, told the BBC, “Irrfan was a wonderful actor and a pivotal figure in the making of [the film]. It wasn’t a huge role, and in fact, on paper it was even less rewarding-looking. But Irrfan saw the possibility of guiding our audience – with his dignity, his grace, his charm, his intelligence, and his calmness – through this crossword puzzle of an idea of a film.”

Bryce Dallas Howard who worked with Khan in Jurassic World said to Al Jazeera, “Irrfan and I filmed our first scene together for Jurassic World. I remember being so struck by him. In his presence, there is permission to be spontaneous, playful, interesting, and interested. I loved acting with him so much. He always had a sparkle in his eye and would discover each moment afresh and anew, again and again.”

“He brought to it a wonderful dignity and calmness. And calmness is an extraordinary quality he was able to harness in most of his work.” Ang Lee, who directed Khan in 2012’s Life of Pi (in which he played the adult Pi) had this to say of his passing. “Irrfan was a great artist, a true gentleman, and a brave fighter. His passing away is cinema’s loss. We will miss him dearly.”

The Prime Minister and President of India both tweeted their condolences.

Khan’s made his last film, Angrezi Medium, on his return from the UK. In a video made for his fans, he said, “. . . we always have the choice to stay positive. . . And with this positivity, we have made this film. I hope this film will give you something and make you laugh, cry, and probably laugh again. Enjoy the trailer and be kind to each other and watch the film. And yes. . . wait for me.”

The film has not yet been released because of the current pandemic.