Irrfan Khan - Bollywoodâs most iconic dark horse and an actor who passed away before his fans and film-lovers could fully explore the depths of his artistic calibre, leaves behind a memorable acting legacy.

His performances were worth every single paisa and every minute of our time spent watching him spill his magic on-screen was worth it. 

Irrfan's psychedelic acting career, which spans close to 35 years. is sprinkled with riveting performances and innumerable roles. Many of which became iconic with passing time and others which remained undiscovered. 

© Maddock Films

Starting off with a meagre role of a letter writer in Mira Nair's Salaam Bombay, to the brooding yet refreshing portrayal of Robert in Puzzle and winning over our hearts recently as the doting father in Angrezi Medium, Irrfan's journey both in Bollywood and Hollywood covers almost all the shades of the colour (read acting) palette.

Yet, among the many unexplored roles the fine actor played over the years, here are 5 lesser-known performances by the star that are worth a mention today:

1. Anupam - The Goal 

Released in 1999 under the direction of Gul Bahar Singh, The Goal was inspired by a Bengali short story by Prafulla Roy where we see Irrfan take over the screen as a devoted football coach, Anupam.  

© Children's Film Society

As Anupam, Irrfan not only comes through as a noble trainer but also gives us a glimpse of a sincere, enterprising coach who would help genuine talent flourish, even at the cost of personal setbacks.  

The film, given its story and exceptional camaraderie between Irrfan and child actor Tapas Dhali, went on to win numerous awards.  

2. Lafcadia - The Warrior 

Another poignant performance by Irrfan Khan at the turn of the century, which allowed him to make his mark in the industry was the 2001 British film titled The Warrior. 

As the filmâs protagonist Lafcadia, Irrfan shouldered the entire project which would go on to win the âAlexander Korda Award for Best British Filmâ at the BAFTA Awards.

© Film4

Irrfan as a fierce Rajasthani warrior gives us a glimpse into the feudalism in ancient India and how he suffers between the call of duty and human conscience which forces him to face his fate even as he tries hard to escape it.

3. Shankar - Kali Salwar

© Andaaz Productions

Another of Irrfanâs lesser-known yet memorable performances, Shankar in Fareeda Mehtaâs Kali Salwar deserves a mention. Based on the renowned author Mantoâs story, Irrfan as Shankar comes with a breath of fresh air in this voyeuristic play-out. 

Shankarâs wit and charm will guide you through a realist representation of life and society, as it existed then and as it evolves into new shapes now.

4. Ranvijay - Haasil

A film which went on to become a cult classic amongst its viewers, Haasil is one of those films where you can find Irrfan in a negative role. 

Irrfan as student leader Ranvijay Singh managed to highlight little-known nuances of student politics and how it can become detrimental to the very causes it is meant to work for.

© Karma Network Productions

Irrfanâs convincing performance as the scheming, ruthless personality Ranvijay ended up earning him the Filmfare Award for Best Actor in a Negative Role.

5. Umber Singh - Qissa

Set against the backdrop of the 1947 Partition, Irrfanâs performance as Umber Singh is indeed worth a lot of praise. 

Through his skills, Irrfan manages to unveil our societyâs fixation with male heirs and how patriarchy overlooks all else when it comes to sustaining itself.

© Augustus Film

Umber Singh as the deluded, self-centred and obsessive patriarch takes over the larger narrative until his sad, lonely end. 

Qissa went on to win the Netpac Award for World or International Asian Film at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival.

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