6 best Irrfan Khan movies on Netflix which celebrate his magnetic screen presence

6 best Irrfan Khan movies on Netflix which celebrate his magnetic screen presence

As a cinema enthusiast who has had the privilege of witnessing the magic of Irrfan Khan on the big screen, I wholeheartedly stand by my belief that he was, without a shadow of a doubt, the greatest actor of all time. His ability to embody characters with such authenticity and depth, coupled with his remarkable versatility across genres, is truly unparalleled.


The renowned actor Irrfan Khan, who passed away in 2020, is widely considered one of the greatest actors in history. His impact on Hindi cinema will be felt for many years to come. Throughout his distinguished career, Irrfan garnered both domestic and international acclaim. He made his acting debut in Mira Nair’s Oscar-nominated film Salaam Bombay, released in 1988, where he played a supporting role. A selection of Irrfan Khan’s movies available on Netflix showcase his captivating screen presence, and we recommend adding them to your watchlist.

As an ardent admirer, I can’t help but reminisce about the unparalleled talent that was Irrfan Khan. His cinematic brilliance is forever etched in our hearts through masterpieces like Paan Singh Tomar, Haider, Maqbool, The Namesake, Life in a…Metro, and Piku, among numerous others. Fortunately, some of these Irrfan-led films can be found streaming on Netflix. If you’re having trouble navigating the OTT platform, fear not, we’re here to guide you!

6 Irrfan Khan movies on Netflix that prove that he was the greatest of all time:

1. Paan Singh Tomar

Under the guidance of director Tigmanshu Dhulia, the film Paan Singh Tomar featured Irrfan Khan in the leading role, embodying the true-life character of Paan Singh Tomar. This individual was a soldier within the Indian Army who eventually became a rebellious figure against the system. The biographical production also showcased notable performances from Mahie Gill, Vipin Sharma, and Nawazuddin Siddiqui in significant roles. Bijendra Kala made a brief appearance in the movie as well.

As a devoted admirer, I can confidently say that among the stellar performances delivered by the late Irrfan Khan in Indian cinema, Paan Singh Tomar stands out as one of his finest. Beyond his exceptional acting skills, he was widely acclaimed for flawlessly mastering the local dialect and commandingly projecting a powerful screen presence.

2. Qarib Qarib Singlle

The film “Qarib Qarib Singlle” showcases Irrfan Khan alongside Malayalam actress Parvathy in her first major role, in a romantic-comedy setting. This production was helmed by director Tanuja Chandra, who also collaborated on the screenplay. Sutapa Sikdar, Irrfan’s wife, joined forces with ZEE Studios and JAR Pictures to co-produce this movie.

In a different take: Irrfan Khan portrayed the character of Yogendra Kumar Devendra Nath Prajapati, also known as Yogi, a carefree man and a poet. The movie opens with the character of Jaya Shashidharan, played by Parvathy, who is a 35-year-old widow and creates a profile on a dating site. She arranges a date with Yogi. A humorous line delivered by Irrfan as Yogi goes, “Let’s have coffee, but don’t take my heart.” Do you recall that?

3. Haider

Under the guidance of director Vishal Bharadwaj, Haider featured Shahid Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor as its main characters. This 2014 film represented a contemporary reinterpretation of the classic tragedy written by renowned English playwright William Shakespeare, Hamlet. Tabu, Kay Kay Menon, and Irrfan Khan played significant roles in this production, which was a political crime thriller.

The movie narrates the tale of Haider, portrayed by Shahid, a youthful scholar and poet, who journeys back to Kashmir during the turmoil of 1995 in the region due to insurgency. Haider embarks on a quest to uncover the mystery behind his father’s unexpected absence. Tabu takes on the role of Ghazala Meer, Haider’s mother, while Kay Kay plays Khurram Meer, Haider’s uncle. Shraddha is cast as Arshia Lone, Haider’s love interest, and Irrfan performs as Roohdaar, who shares imprisonment with his missing father.

4. Life..In a Metro

Anurag Basu’s movie titled “Life in a Metro” is often said to have been influenced by the 1960 American romantic-comedy, “The Apartment.” This film of his boasts an impressive ensemble cast including Shilpa Shetty, Kay Kay Menon, Konkona Sen Sharma, Irrfan Khan, Dharmendra, Nafisa Ali, Sharman Joshi and others.

2007’s drama film tells the tale of nine Mumbai residents whose lives are intricately linked. In this production, Irrfan shared the screen with Konkona. Their friendship was both endearing and entertaining to observe. In one particular moment, Irrfan, portraying Monty, aids Shruti (Konkona’s character) in releasing her anger by shouting together on a rooftop.

5. Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster Returns

In 2013, Tigmanshu Dhulia directed the sequel to the 2010 film “Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster,” which featured Jimmy Shergill, Mahie Gill, Irrfan Khan, and Soha Ali Khan as the main characters.

The next installment continues the narrative focusing on Aditya Pratap Singh, portrayed by Jimmy Sheirgill, who is a disabled nobleman (Sahab) yearning to regain his health and overcome his wife’s infidelity. Mahie Gill assumes the role of Madhavi Devi, Aditya’s wife, who transforms into an MLA and develops an alcohol problem. In this movie, Irrfan Khan takes on the character of Indrajeet Pratap Singh, also known as Raja Bhaiyya.

6. 7 Khoon Maaf

According to the short story by well-known author Ruskin Bond titled Susanna’s Seven Husbands, the 2011 film 7 Khoon Maaf, a black comedy, featured Priyanka Chopra in the main role. In this movie, actors such as John Abraham, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Irrfan Khan, Alexander Dyachenko, Annu Kapoor, and Naseeruddin Shah portrayed her on-screen husbands. Additionally, Vivaan Shah, son of Naseeruddin Shah, played a significant role in the film.

Priyanka Chopra portrayed the character of Susanna Anna-Marie Johannes, a woman who tragically lost six husbands in her quest for love. Her seventh ‘husband’, so to speak, was Susanna’s symbolic demise. Irrfan Khan was selected to play Mohammed Wasiullah Khan, also known as Musafir, who took on the role of her third husband.

Have you watched these films? Don’t wait anymore. Watch them on Netflix.

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2024-09-12 21:53