Irrfan

The first time I noticed Irrfan Khan was in TV as a minor artiste in the serials Chanakya and Bharat Ek Khoj. Then in the hugely popular serial  Chandrakanta. This was a must see item at our home on Sundays due to the insistence of my son . Even in a  nonsignificant role, he caught my attention due to his expression, particularly the eyes . Brooding, yet so much expressive. I saw his first movie Salaam Bombay quite late. 

In between , Irrfan went on with his acting career in TV and  movies with many small roles . I always found him stealing the scenes in spite of his small presence. His ascendance started from 2003 after the stellar performance in Maqbool. After that , there was no way he could be stopped . And the movie Namesake marked his international presence with a bang . The time came when the whole world noticed his talemts and we got an actor who was a star in his own way. 

Awards , recognition and fame came to him . Hit or flop, good or bad , Indian or international, whichever movie he acted in didn't matter. He created his own path. Without copying anybody , without mannerisms, without any hint of forced expressions. When we the audience ended viewing the movie, the first name which we recaLled was his. His versatility and the ease with which he portrayed the roles in his films made him an actor dear to everybody's heart. His forte were expressions and timing. He never looked as if he was acting a role. Many of the characters he portrayed crowd the memories. 

Feeling sad on his demise . It is a great loss literally and I mean it. During this lockdown we have also lost Usha Ganguly . Did not want to spread the gloom by writing obituaries.

He was afflicted by a terminal illness and fought it bravely. My deepest respect for him and condolences to his family who have to bear two successive shocks of death. May peace be with him.