Irrfan Khan (1967-2020): A pictorial tribute to the Maqbool actor

Irrfan Khan passed away on Wednesday after a long battle with neuroendocrine cancer in 2018. He made his last onscreen appearance in Homi Adjania directorial Angrezi Medium and won hearts with his honest portrayal of a father who can go to any lengths to fulfil her daughter's dream. This was not the first time that Khan lured cinephiles with his acting chops. Ever since he stepped into the world of cinema in the late 1980s, he owned every character he portrayed on the celluloid. Here is a tribute to the Maqbool actor in pictures. (Source: Photo by Express Archive Photo)

One of the finest talents of Indian cinema, Irrfan Khan was honoured with the Padma Shri award, the fourth highest civilian award in 2011. His role in biographical drama Paan Singh Tomar garnered him the National Award for Best Actor. Apart from this, he won several awards for his movies like Maqbool, Life In A Metro, The Lunchbox and others. (Source: Photo by Express Archive Photo)

Despite fighting a rare tumour, Irrfan exuded positivity and retained his sense of humour before the release of Angrezi medium. He shared with his fans, "Some unwanted guests have gatecrashed my body." He added, "The saying goes, ‘When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade.' Sounds good, but when you get a handful of lemons, it isn’t easy to squeeze them. And yet we always have the choice to stay positive." (Source: Photo by Express Archive Photo)

In a career spanning three decades (starting with a stint on TV), the NSD alumni Irrfan deftly alternated between a range of entertaining and intense roles in his inimitable style. He debuted in Bollywood with Salaam Bombay, and then became a part of gems like Maqbool, Qissa, Life in a... Metro, Paan Singh Tomar, The Namesake, Talvar and more. (Source: Photo by Express Archive Photo)

Irrfan Khan receiving the Best Actor award from Rekha for Paan Singh Tomar at the 19th Annual Color Screen Awards. He shared the award with Barfi actor Ranbir Kapoor. (Source: Photo by Express Archive Photo)

In his last interaction with The Indian Express, Irrfan shared, "You know what’s worse than one’s fear of death? To live and be dead. I relate to everything which works against the odds. I have faith in miracles and I have faith in obtaining the unattainable with an undying spirit." (Source: Photo by Express Archive Photo)

For Irrfan, cinema and acting meant, "stories (that needed) to be told, moments to be lived, memories to be with you and immaterial of material things." (Source: Photo by Express Archive Photo)

Irrfan Khan in the movie Life In A Metro. He shared the screen with Konkona Sensharma in the movie. (Source: Photo by Express Archive Photo)

A still from the movie The Lunchbox which featured Irrfan as a doleful office-goer. Wistfully underplayed, you will find it difficult to take your eyes off him in the movie. (Source: Photo by Express Archive Photo)

Irrfan Khan in the movie Rog. (Source: Photo by Express Archive Photo)

Irrfan shared the screen with Neena Gupta in the TV series Dillagi. (Source: Photo by Express Archive Photo)

In his three-decades-long career, Irrfan portrayed various characters ranging from a canny mobster, faithful friend, terrorist, killer, gangster, to a lover, boyfriend, fiancé and husband. (Source: Photo by Express Archive Photo)

Irrfan shared the screen with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in the movie Jazbaa. In this photo, the two actors are promoting the movie. (Source: Photo by Express Archive Photo)

Irrfan Khan with actor Ashutosh Rana. (Source: Photo by Express Archive Photo)