This superstar went to Bombay and started working as an AC (air conditioner) mechanic to make a living. Know about him.
They say that if you truly desire something, the universe helps you achieve it. The journey of a famous Bollywood actor reflects this belief. His passion was acting, and he dedicated his entire life to it. To follow this dream, he made countless sacrifices but never gave up. When he came to Mumbai to pursue a film career, he faced immense struggles, to the point where even arranging two meals a day became challenging. Despite the hardships and obstacles, he never stopped chasing his dreams of making a name in the film industry.
Born and brought up in Rajasthan, the National Film awardee was good at cricket and was selected to play in the under-23 category, a tournament seen as a stepping stone to first-class cricket in India. However, he did not attend as he could not afford travel expenses. He then started showing interest in acting. Soon after his MA, he came to Delhi and joined National School of Drama (NSD)in 1984.
Going to Bombay has always been a dream for theatre artists. He too went there and started working as an AC (air conditioner) mechanic to make a living. During this time, he even visited Rajesh Khanna’s home to repair his AC.
Coming to his acting journey, this superstar made his debut with a small role in Salaam Bombay! which was followed by years of struggle. He acted in a few Film and Television Institute of India student films. He got fame from a British film The Warrior (2001) and there was no looking back from there as he was seen in Haasil (2003) and Maqbool (2004). We are talking about Irfan Khan.
Irfan went on to gain critical acclaim for his roles in The Namesake for which he was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male, Life in a… Metro, and Paan Singh Tomar. For portraying the title character in the last of these, he won the National Film Award for Best Actor. Further success came from his starring roles in The Lunchbox, Piku, and Talvar. His highest-grossing Hindi film release came with the comedy-drama Hindi Medium, and his final film appearance was in its sequel Angrezi Medium, both of which won him the Filmfare Award for Best Actor.
Irfan never did movies for money. He loved acting and was passionate about it. Half of the time, the dates were a big issue for him as the producers used to ask for 3-month long commitments. Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar was an Oscar favourite that Irrfan had turned down because he was shooting D-Day and The Lunchbox.
In 2018, Irrfan was diagnosed with neuroendocrine cancer, and on April 29, 2020, he bid the world farewell forever. However, he left behind a timeless legacy that will always be cherished. Though he is no longer with us, Irrfan will continue to live on in the hearts of his audience through the unforgettable characters he brought to life.