On Irrfan Khan’s birth anniversary today – January 7 – tributes have poured in from across the film industry and audiences who continue to feel the absence of an actor who reshaped Hindi cinema without noise or vanity.
Years after his passing, Irrfan remains one of Bollywood’s rarest talents—an actor whose restraint, intelligence, and emotional precision elevated even the most unconventional scripts.
While his celebrated performances are often revisited, his extensive filmography is sprinkled with brilliance that didn’t get their due at release.
To celebrate Irrfan Khan’s life and craft, lets revisit six of his underrated films
Blackmail
In Abhinay Deo’s dark comedy Blackmail, Irrfan Khan delivers a masterclass in controlled absurdity. Playing Dev, a middle-aged man who stumbles into a chain of increasingly bizarre blackmail situations, Irrfan anchors the film’s twisted humour with an almost disarming gentleness.
Tackling discomforting themes spanning infidelity, voyeurism and moral compromise, Irrfan’s performance is underpinned by a bruised humanity, letting awkward silences and fleeting expressions do the heavy lifting.
Turning a cynical premise into something oddly empathetic, Irrfan’s ability to underpin comedy with layers of tragedy makes the audience root for a deeply flawed man navigating chaos he never intended to unleash.
Haasil
Crime drama film Haasil revealed the potency and versatility of Irrfan’s acting. Portraying a calculative and cunning antagonist, Irrfan’s raw presence grips you amidst the gritty backdrop of student politics.
Playing the wicked and intense won Ranvijay Singh who operates through the film for his own goals, his performance won Irrfan the Filmfare Award for Best Actor in a Negative Role.
Powerpacked yet honest, Haasil definitely showcases Irrfan at his antagonistic best.
D—Day
In a genre often dominated by bravado, action-thriller D-Day stands out for its emotional gravity with Irrfan Khan at its center. As Wali Khan, an undercover RAW agent living as a barber in Pakistan, Irrfan plays a man fractured by duty and domesticity.
His performance is notably introspective, defined by what he withholds rather than what he declares. The film’s tension doesn’t just stem from espionage or political stakes, but from Wali’s fear of losing the family that keeps him human.
Making the moral cost of patriotism feel personal rather than performative, Irrfan’s portrayal is understated yet dignified.
Qarib Qarib Singlle
In this slice-of-life romantic comedy opposite Malayalam powerhouse Parvathy Thiruvothu, Irrfan’s candid charm plays beautifully off his leading lady’s enchanting performance.
Following a mismatched pair who fall in love during the course of a road trip, Qarib Qarib Singlle is a heartwarming film laden with comfort, warmth and just the right amount of quirkiness.
Irrfan’s performance as happy-go-lucky poet Yogendra “Yogi” Kumar Devendra Nath Prajapati is led by a candidness that makes the film feel real and refreshing all at once.
Madaari
Madaari is often discussed as a social thriller, but at its heart, it is a story of grief, and Irrfan Khan carries that grief with devastating honesty.
Playing a father who challenges a corrupt system after personal loss, Irrfan’s emotive portrayal lets sorrow, fatigue and moral uncertainty guide his actions. His chemistry with child actor Vishesh Bansal adds emotional depth, turning their bond into the film’s emotional spine.
In one of his most emotionally raw yet most overlooked performances, Irrfan brings stillness, restraint and moments that linger long after the frame cuts away.
The Namesake
Directed by Mira Nair and written by Sooni Taraporevala based on the novel The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri, this English drama delivers a brave exploration of the immigrant experience.
Unfolding the struggles of an immigrant couple Ashoke and Ashima Ganguli – played by Irrfan and Tabu – in the United States, the film is melancholic and grounded in reality.
Conveying the deep emotions of a man split between heritage and belonging, Irrfan’s skill of expressive acting gets a chance to shine here as he brings forth a nuanced performance that hits the intended mark with only minimal dialogue.
Words by Malvika Padin and Khushboo Malhotra
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