Indian actor Irrfan Khan, known for his role in "Slumdog Millionaire", dies

Text by: Sophie Torlotin Follow

Indian actor Irrfan Khan, who became known through the film Slumdog Millionaire, died at the age of 53. The Bollywood star, who was diagnosed with a rare cancer in 2018, was admitted to Bombay Hospital this week for a colon infection.

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He was one of the most famous faces of Bollywood outside the Indian borders. A role made him known worldwide: that of the police inspector who tracks down the poverty- stricken hero of Slumdog millionaire . In 2008, Danny Boyle's film enjoyed international success and won eight Oscars .

And yet, this Indian actor with a serious look and a goofy musketeer intended for a sports career. But failing to become a cricketer, this native of Rajastan left to study drama.

Irrfan Khan began his career with Salaam Bombay , by Mira Nair in 1988. Thirteen years later, he was recognized for his almost silent role in The Warrior , the adaptation of a traditional Japanese tale by the British filmmaker Asif Kapadia.

From Bollywood to Hollywood

The phenomenal success of Slumdog Millionaire finally opens the doors to Hollywood for him. It appears in blockbusters  : T he Amazing Spider-Man in 2012, Jurassic World in 2015 or Infern o, the third part of the Da Vince Code saga. But we also see it in mainstream author films like Pi Lee's Odyssey by Ang Lee.

Irrfan Khan also reaped successes in India, illustrated in different registers: an adaptation of the Macbeth tragedy , entitled Maqbool in 2003, the Bollywood production Rog or the comedy Billu in 2009.

Recently, Irrfan Khan won over audiences in Ritesh Batra's romantic comedy, The Lunchbox , in which a man and a woman fall in love with a lunch bowl.

In total, Irrfan Khan has appeared in a hundred films, garnering awards and admiration from his peers for his nuanced performances. But also its human qualities. Tom Hanks, who replied on Inferno , saluted during the promotion of the film in 2016 "  the coolest guy in the room  ".

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