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British-Pakistani actor Riz Ahmed says Irrfan Khan was a ‘guiding light’ and his legacy is still being understood

British-Pakistani actor Riz Ahmed says Irrfan Khan was a ‘guiding light’ and his legacy is still being understood

The actor has shown admiration for Bollywood star in the past and continues to do so when given the chance.
09 Dec, 2021

The late Irrfan Khan has fans all over the world, including Oscar nominated actor Riz Ahmed.

The British-Pakistani actor has made a name for himself in hit movies such as Mowgli and Venom but like any other desi child that grew up watching Bollywood, he found Khan inspiring.

In an interview with PTI Ahmed listed The Warrior, The Lunchbox and Maqbool — all movies that Khan as starred in — as his all-time favourites and said these films made him a fan of the Indian actor. He believes that Khan's legacy is still being understood as people are discovering his projects, more so after his demise.

“I don’t really think there had been an actor like him, until he came along. By that, I mean someone who seamlessly managed to bridge Bollywood and Hollywood, independent films and commercial films, in two languages and across the two biggest film industries in the world,” the 39-year-old actor said.

Ahmed had paid tribute to Khan earlier this year in his acceptance speech after he won an award for Best Actor in Sound of Metal at Gotham Awards in Manhattan, New York.

"Just those eyes… I remember seeing him for the first time in The Warrior, The Lunchbox, and Maqbool. I remember seeing him in Life of Pi and each time, the way that he could just be so unapologetically himself and still transform," he told the news agency.

Ahmed called Khan a "guiding light" for an entire generation. “I think we were lucky to have been alive in a time when he was creating," said Ahmed. He also wished that more actors like him (Khan) make use of the given platforms and "bridge the two worlds and industries.”

The Sound of Metal actor has time and again shown admiration for Khan who died from a rare form of cancer in early 2020. Khan had a successful career both in Bollywood and Hollywood. Till this day the actor is remembered for his acting skills by both the stars who shared the screen with him and his fans around the world.

Comments

Tadka Dec 09, 2021 01:31pm
Sahi kaha
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Jalal Dec 09, 2021 04:44pm
Of all the Khans in Bollywood he was the best actor . He was an intellect and had very progressive views . He was against animal sacrifice in Bakr Id and he took some Mullahs to task who tried to defame him as a Kaffir . He brilliantly went on to say buying an animal from the market and cutting it is no sacrifice . The animal sacrifice was a metaphor to teach detachment and there are similar themes in Hindu scripts as well . He however was supportive of Roza during Ramzan as that taught self discipline and required an individual to endure hunger and thirst . One in a century icon.
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Faizan Dec 09, 2021 06:01pm
@Jalal He sounds like he was a kaffir then. Animal sacrifice on Eid ul Azha is also about helping the needy. Much of the meat goes to poor people, allowing them to eat! It's a very good thing. And he took no one to task. No Indian Muslim learned their religion from him, he was no authority in Islam and now he's just a distant memory with no relevance.
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dabangg Dec 09, 2021 10:21pm
@Faizan Why not give money to help the needy if that is the goal?
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Uyghyr ahmadi Dec 10, 2021 12:05am
Agreed 100%. Only khan in Bollywood I enjoyed watching movies of. Saif, salmon, Amir, shah are hyped but lack talent.
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Vivek wani Dec 10, 2021 12:20am
great actor Irfan.
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Mani Dec 10, 2021 01:00am
@dabangg you can also give money if you can’t give them meat. The idea is to give and share.
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Observer101 Dec 10, 2021 02:09am
Irrfan was the greatest actor on the Indian screen. Hope Riz will be equal to him someday.
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