Irrfan Khan Birth Anniversary 2024: Here are 11 lesser-known facts about the late actor

Irrfan Khan. Pic/Instagram

Irrfan Khan Birth Anniversary 2024: He was one of the most acclaimed and sought-after actors in the Indian film industry who left a stellar mark with his powerful performances even in Hollywood. Best known for films like 'Maqbool', 'Paan Singh Tomar', 'The Lunchbox', 'Piku' among several others, Irrfan was a gem of an actor who used to keep the audiences hooked to the silver screen with his superlative acting skills. While the legendary star, Irrfan, is no longer with us, let's take a look at 11 lesser-known facts about him as we remember the 'King of Acting' on his birth anniversary.

Fact 1

We all know that the late Irrfan Khan has been an actor beyond compare and will always be considered as a testimony to superlative acting skills. But, did you know that, more than acting, Irrfan Khan always had dreamt of becoming a cricketer, as per reports.

Fact 2

Bollywood actors changing their original names to adopt a screen name is pretty common. Irrfan Khan's full name is Sahabzade Irfan Ali Khan, which he had shortened it to ‘Irrfan Khan'.

Fact 3

While we all know that Irrfan Khan belonged to Bollywood and vice versa, did you know that Irrfan Khan's native is a village named Tonk in Jaipur.

Fact 4

Films like Mira Nair's 'Salaam Bombay' and others made Irrfan Khan one of the fine-crafted pillars of Bollywood. Speaking of 'Salaam Bombay', did you know that, while he was offered the role in the film ‘Salaam Bombay', he was studying in his third year at NSD (National School of Drama). Not the one to say no to challenging roles, Irrfan Khan agreed to do the role. The rest, as they say, is ‘his-story'.

There is also one more interesting trivia about the film. It's being said that, even though Mira Nair had signed him for the role in the film, his role was eventually cut short because of his tall height! The irony of the situation is that, despite all this, Irrfan Khan ‘stood tall' in the film!

Fact 5

We all know about the extremely prestigious TFCA (Toronto Film Critics Association Award). What many may not know is that, the late Irrfan Khan's widely acclaimed film 'Lunch Box' is the only Indian movie till date to have got a TFCA award!

Fact 6

Who will ever say no to a Christopher Nolan film... not even in the wildest of dreams! Well, if the reports are to be believed, then, Irrfan Khan had turned down a film that was offered to him by Nolan! And the reason for the refusal will make you fall in love with Irrfan Khan over and over again. Its being said that, even though he was keen to do the Hollywood sci-fi film ‘Interstellar', he had to turn it down because of his prior commitment to ‘The Lunchbox' and ‘D-Day' and that him saying yes to the film would have wanted him to stay in foreign land for four months!

Doesn't that make you go ‘awwwww' about Irrfan Khan!

Fact 7

You will be surprised to know that Irrfan Khan had landed in Mumbai after having done the training of air conditioning. And his job as an AC technician also got him to visit the house of the superstar (late) Rajesh Khanna to get his air conditioner repaired.

Fact 8

Not many know that the Hollywood actress Natalie Portman and Irrfan Khan had once been casted together in Mira Nair's film ‘Kosher Vegetarian'. The film was about a love story between a Gujarati man and a Jewish girl.

Fact 9

Even though he did not ‘look' that tall, the fact is that, the height of Irrfan Khan was 6 feet 1 inch!

Fact 10

During an Oscar awards ceremony, Hollywood's much-acclaimed actress Julia Roberts had once come up to him and complimented him for his acting in ‘The Namesake'.

Fact 11

Did you know that the late Irrfan Khan's father ran a tyre business?