Happy Birthday Irrfan Khan: 5 lesser known facts about the talented actor

Irrfan Khan is one of the most versatile actors that we have in the Indian Film industry. In a career spanning over three decades, Irrfan has taken up different kinds of roles and given a lot of memorable performances. The list of Irrfan's best performances and films is too long but one cannot forget his fabulous acts in films like Maqbool, Rog, Haasil, Life in a... Metro, The Namesake, Slumdog Millionaire, Paan Singh Tomar, Life of Pi, Piku, The Lunchbox, to name a few. In 2018, Irrfan Khan shared the unfortunate news that he is diagnosed with high-grade neuroendocrine cancer. Since then, he has been taking treatment for the same in London. We really hope to see the actor spread his acting magic on the silver screen yet again. As the actor turns 52 today, we have listed a few lesser known facts about him:

Happy Birthday Irrfan Khan: 5 lesser known facts about the talented actor

1

Irrfan Khan is one of the most versatile actors that we have in the Indian Film industry. In a career spanning over three decades, Irrfan has taken up different kinds of roles and given a lot of memorable performances. The list of Irrfan's best performances and films is too long but one cannot forget his fabulous acts in films like Maqbool, Rog, Haasil, Life in a... Metro, The Namesake, Slumdog Millionaire, Paan Singh Tomar, Life of Pi, Piku, The Lunchbox, to name a few. In 2018, Irrfan Khan shared the unfortunate news that he is diagnosed with high-grade neuroendocrine cancer. Since then, he has been taking treatment for the same in London. We really hope to see the actor spread his acting magic on the silver screen yet again. As the actor turns 52 today, we have listed a few lesser known facts about him:

Happy Birthday Irrfan Khan: 5 lesser known facts about the talented actor

2

He was born in the village of Tonk in Jaipur, in a well-off family with royal connections. He has two siblings and his father was a wealthy Zamindar who wanted his son to join the family tyre business.

Happy Birthday Irrfan Khan: 5 lesser known facts about the talented actor

3

Irrfan wanted to be a cricketer but his parents didn’t agree to it. As a luck by chance, he got a scholarship to attend National School of Drama. He was pursuing his Masters in Jaipur at that time. And he lied about having past theatre experience to get in. Well, it was actually a ‘good lie’.

Happy Birthday Irrfan Khan: 5 lesser known facts about the talented actor

4

Not many know but Irrfan actually added an extra R to his name. And it was not a numerologist who suggested this to him. He himself did it because he liked the sound an extra 'R' gives to his name.

Happy Birthday Irrfan Khan: 5 lesser known facts about the talented actor

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Well, this might come as a surprise for many but Hollywood actress Julia Roberts stopped outside the Kodak Theater (where the Oscars were being staged) to compliment Irrfan for his excellent performance in 'Slumdog Millionaire'.

Happy Birthday Irrfan Khan: 5 lesser known facts about the talented actor

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Irrfan has been detained twice at Los Angeles Airport because his name is similar to a terror suspect. ''So now, I have told my hosts clearly that if I am stopped at the airport, I will just buy a ticket and return to India," he had said. Irrfan has also appeared in more than five Hollywood films including 'The Amazing Spiderman', 'Life of Pi' and 'The Jurrasic Park'.