Hollywood and Bollywood both suffered an incalculable loss last month with the untimely passing of actor Irrfan Khan at age 53.
Known as simply “Irrfan” to his Bollywood fans, the late star spent 30 years embodying quiet masculinity in chameleonic performances. It made him a cinema icon in India and a respected character actor in the States, appearing in “Slumdog Millionaire,” “Life of Pi” and “Jurassic World.”
But on this week’s Be Reel, we need to go to the source to understand the outpouring of grief and reverence in the wake of Khan’s death. We watched three of the actor’s most famous Indian roles to assess the legacy he leaves behind. Across “Paan Singh Tomar” (2012), “The Lunchbox” (2013), and “Piku” (2015), Khan moves effortlessly from muscular drama to shy romance to madcap comedy.
To start today’s show, Chance is joined by Vulture contributor Mallika Rao to discuss Khan’s career, the reaction to his death by both Eastern and Western moviegoers, and what his legacy means to her family. Read Mallika’s tremendous remembrance here.
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