The late Irrfan Khan is the only Indian actor that has been listed in The Independent’s list of 60 best actors of the 21st century.
The list is topped by the late actor Philip Seymour Hoffman, known for films like The Master (2012), Capote (2005) and Charlie Wilson’s War (2007). Second on the list is Emma Stone who has acted in critically-acclaimed films like Poor Things (2023) and Birdman (2014).
Irrfan ranks 41st on the list. In a note written for the actor, The Independent states, “It’s Irrfan Khan’s eyes, hooded and deep brown, that will live eternally. They granted him the ability to weave magic, to recite poetry without moving his lips.”
Irrfan made his film debut in 1987 with Mira Nair’s Salaam Bombay!, however, he found a breakthrough with Asif Kapadia’s 2001 film The Warrior. He went on to give impactful performances in films like Tigmanshu Dhulia’s Haasil (2003), Vishal Bhardwaj’s Maqbool (2003) and Mira Nair’s The Namesake (2006). He is also known for films like The Lunchbox (2013), Life of Pi (2012) and Paan Singh Tomar (2012).
Irrfan passed away in 2020 after suffering from neuroendocrine cancer. He was 53.
Other actors on the list were Daniel Day-Lewis at 3, followed by Denzel Washington. From 5 to 10 were Nicole Kidman, Daniel Kaluuya, Song Kang Ho, Cate Blanchett, Colin Farrell, and Florence Pugh respectively.