Irrfan Khan: The Rahul Dravid Of Hindi Cinema

In this article I pay tribute to Irrfan Khan. I compare him to Rahul Dravid for displaying similar traits like resilience, ability to survive storms and stay the course to get to where he wanted to. Just like Dravid, he'll be badly missed in the field of Hindi cinema. The value of Irrfan Khan will only grow as time passes just as Dravid's has since his retirement from the game.

Khan in Bollywood is not just Shah Rukh, Aamir, Salman and Saif, it is also Irrfan. In cricket too, batting is not just about Richards, Gavaskar, Sachin and Lara, it is also about Rahul Dravid.

Just like cricket's `wall`, who had to grow up under the shadows of Sachin, Irrfan Khan also had to grow up under the shadows of the Khans and numerous other more celebrated stars. Just like Dravid, whose 180 in the famous 2001 Kolkata test against Australia is less remembered due to VVS Laxman's epic 281 in that same innings, Irrfan Khan too won't be as celebrated as the iconic Khans, but his place in the landscape of Hindi cinema is his own. Just as Laxman's 281 could not have been achieved without Dravid, Bollywood too would have been poorer without the presence of this Khan. Just as Amitabh Bachchan benefited from Shashi Kapoor's understated presence in Deewar, Irrfan Khan lifted Piku through his unassuming act.

Irrfan Khan was not the star you queued up outside his house to have `darshan`. He was not the one you craved to meet and take a selfie with to show the world you shared space with the `God Of Cinema`, because you never saw him that way. He was always the actor next door who entertained you by making you believe in yourself.

His wry sense of humour, rustic ability and vulnerability made you see yourself in him. He was not the messiah of the common man like Amol Palekar in the 70s' and 80s'. He was a star who made you believe you could get there too if you worked as hard as he did. Unlike Amol Palekar, who somewhere mirrored the common man's reality, Irrfan Khan connected with the aspirational side of the common man.

This Khan too started off in the 90s', but it was not until the last few years that he came to be recognised as special ability. He earned his respect bit by bit, through long years of struggle and doing roles that he did not like. As he said in an interview, he compromised to stay in the reckoning. Just like Dravid weathered the storms caused by the pitch, great bowling and team contexts, Irrfan too bided his time in the middle to carve out a unique space for himself. Such was the man's perseverance and nurtured ability that he found favour even in Hollywood.

His journey from a TV actor to a Bollywood artiste of substance is inspiring for mortals like us who have to put in the hard grind to fulfill our dreams. Irrfan's life was a story of perseverance, focus, struggle, staying the course and grabbing opportunities as they came. He showed dreams are achievable if you are ready to hang in there. Even as he battled illness for the last couple of years or so, he kept his fighting spirit alive. Through his life he taught that the common man has to keep fighting, come what may.

Just like Dravid, he'll be badly missed in the field of Hindi cinema. The value of Irrfan Khan will only grow as time passes just as Dravid's has since his retirement from the game.

Irrfan Khan will also be a metaphor for life's seemingly unfair about-turns. Having got there where he wanted to be, life did an untimely recall on him - perhaps hugely unfair to the man himself, his family, fans and those who loved him. Just when he could have ushered in even greater levels of success and stardom, death did an anti-climax on him.

Irrfan Khan, thank you for being the artiste you were. We will miss you. But there is consolation that we can keep you in front of us through your films. In our hearts, you will stay forever.