Talvar, The Lunchbox, Maqbool - 7 films that establish why Irrfan Khan is one of the FINEST actors in India!

By Sreeju Sudhakaran
| Updated: January 7, 2016 8:22 AM IST

Wishing the brilliant actor Many Many Happy Returns of the Day!

There is a saying in Hindi, Der Aaye Lekin Durust Aaye! Also Read - Vishal Bhardwaj, Vikramaditya Motwane and Rohan Sippy to join hands for a cinematic extravaganza? [EXCLUSIVE]

This saying applies perfectly to Irrfan Khan as well. One of the finest performers we have in this country, this NSD grad and Padma Shri winner started his acting career in the late '80s, but it took more than a decade for the industry and the audience to realise he is an actor that would make us proud, even on international level. After impressive performances in Bollywood, Hollywood got calling and he appeared in big films like A Mighty heart, Life of Pi, Jurassic World and even the upcoming Inferno. He was almost cast in Interstellar and The Martian as well. Also Read - Irrfan Khan’s son Babil Khan reveals why he doesn’t attend parties like other star kids

On the occasion of his birthday, we look at 7 iconic roles of his that make us wonder why he got just one National award! Also Read - Kangana Ranaut to Aamir Khan: Top 10 celebs who went against their parents for a career in movies

Honourable Mentions: The Warrior, Qissa, Life of Pi, A Mighty Heart, Saat Khoon Maaf, Billu and many many others...

Haasil

Though Irrfan Khan was seen in many movies before Haasil, it was in this Tigmanshu Dhulia's film that people finally sat up and notice this bundle of talent. He was unlike a villain Hindi cinema has seen before. A cold and calculating political goon who is as unpredictable as the rains this year, Irrfan steals every scene he is in. It was his performance that made the film the sleeper hit of the year, as well as won him his first Filmfare award for Best Actor in a Negative Role.

Life...in a Metro

While Irrfan is mostly seen in dark intense roles that had the touch of humour, it was in this film where we saw his lighter side. As the man in his forties desperate to get married, Irrfan earns our chuckles as well as our sympathies, even when his eyes are transfixed onto Konkana Sen Sharma's bosom!

Maqbool

Though it was Pankaj Kapur who walked away with most of the praises as well as the National award, you can't just ignore Irrfan's performance as the troubled leading man, who can't exorcise the ghosts of his crimes. His chemistry with an equally impressive Tabu is electrifying and his interpretation of Macbeth would even make the Bard applaud!

The Namesake

Though Kal Penn is the hero of the film, it is Tabu and Irrfan Khan who shoulder the film magnificently. In his most understated performance, Irrfan Khan brings various subtle nuances to his role, be it his innocent smile and his perfect Bengali accent! This was a role that should have been noticed by the Oscars, if they ever cared about Indians.

Paan Singh Tomar

Tigmanshu Dhulia worked magic with Irrfan Khan again in this biopic of a National level athlete turned dacoit. Though the film had no huge stars, the film turned out to be a hit, thanks to Irrfan's wonderful performance. He gets everything perfect for this role, be it mannerisms, his physical agility or his rural accent. It was so powerful that even the National Awards committee stopped ignoring the man, and gave him his first National Award for the Best Actor.

The Lunchbox

As a lonely man who begins a new phase of his life, when he gets an unexpected letter in his lunchbox, Irrfan showed us a new side of the performer in him, that we have never witnessed before. He underplays himself down and gives a genuinely believable performance as the senior citizen of the verge of retirement. It also helped matters, that he had two terrific costars in Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Nimrat Kaur for company!

Talvar

2015 was a great year for Irrfan, as he had a global hit in Jurassic World as well as a critically acclaimed turn in Talvar. His role of the investigating officer is almost flawless, as the actor brings in the required gravitas and dry wit in sufficient amount to the role. Watch out for that scene when he pokes fun and holes at his rival team's findings, and let me know that you didn't even clap once!

Did we miss out on any other roles?

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BySreeju Sudhakaran
Updated: January 7, 2016 8:22 AM IST