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Irrfan Khan Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 4, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth7 January 1967

Age53 Years (at time of death)

BirthplaceJaipur, Rajasthan, India

ProfessionActor, Producer

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseSutapa Sikdar

FamilySons: Ayaan Khan, Babil Khan

Irrfan Khan Biography

Irrfan Khan (born Sahabzade Irfan Ali Khan) was an Indian actor and producer whose work spanned Indian cinema, world cinema and television. A National Film

Early life and background

Sahabzade Irfan Ali Khan, popularly known as Irrfan Khan, was born on 7 January 1967 in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Raised in a family with roots in the Tonk district, he completed a diploma in dramatic arts from the National School of Drama in New Delhi, which set the foundation for his career in theatre, television and film.

Career

Irrfan’s screen journey began in the mid-1980s with television work and small film parts. One of his earliest screen appearances was in the television serial Shrikant (1985). His first film credit in Hindi cinema was a small role in Salaam Bombay (1988). During the 1990s he worked extensively on television in series such as Bharat Ek Khoj, Chanakya, Banegi Apni Baat, Chandrakanta and others, while also taking on supporting and less-noticed film roles.

A turning point came with his part in the British-Indian film The Warrior (2001), followed by wider recognition for a striking negative role in Tigmanshu Dhulia’s Haasil (2003). He took his first lead role in Rog (2005) and went on to build a reputation for purposeful, selective choices and rigorous preparation for characters.

Irrfan achieved major critical acclaim and awards for performances in films such as Paan Singh Tomar, which earned him the National Film Award for Best Actor. His performances in Life in a... Metro and Haasil won Filmfare awards in supporting and negative categories, and he also received Filmfare Critics and Best Actor honours for Paan Singh Tomar and Hindi Medium respectively. Beyond Indian cinema, he acted in international projects including A Mighty Heart (2007) and appeared in globally successful films associated with Academy Award wins such as Slumdog Millionaire (2008) and Life of Pi (2012). He also lent his voice to video games including Lego Jurassic World and Lego Dimensions.

Irrfan balanced commercial and independent work, turning down some high-profile international opportunities to honour commitments to projects he cared about. Notable later films include Blackmail and Angrezi Medium (2020), the latter being his final film release.

Public profile

Irrfan was honoured by the Government of India with the Padma Shri in 2011. He was recognized by industry and critics alike, receiving multiple awards across national and film-industry platforms, and was named CNN-IBN Indian of the Year in 2012. His stage-trained technique, understated intensity and expressive eyes were frequently praised by critics and fellow professionals.

He served as the face of the Rajasthan government’s Resurgent Rajasthan campaign in 2015. Known for being selective about roles, he often invested deeply in research and character preparation. His name spelling was changed to “Irrfan” in 2012 simply because he preferred the sound.

Personal life

Irrfan married Sutapa Sikdar, a dialogue writer whom he met while both were students at the National School of Drama, on 23 February 1995. The couple had two sons, Ayaan and Babil. He came from a Muslim family, and though his heritage was Pathan, he followed a vegetarian diet.

Health and passing

In March 2018 Irrfan announced he had been diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumour. He underwent treatment over the following period. Irrfan Khan passed away on 29 April 2020 at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai. He was 53 years old. His death was widely mourned across the nation.

Legacy and recognition

Irrfan’s body of work bridged mainstream and international cinema, earning both popular and critical acclaim. He remains celebrated for roles that showcased range and emotional subtlety, and for bringing Indian acting to a global stage. In 2024 he was included by The Independent in a list of the 60 best actors of the 21st century, the sole Indian actor on that list.

Latest updates

Irrfan’s final film release was Angrezi Medium (2020). Posthumous recognition and retrospectives of his work continue to appear, reflecting sustained appreciation for his contribution to film and performing arts.

Editorial Review and Sources

This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about Irrfan Khan, send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded
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Recent Work

Angrezi Medium

Final film release in which Irrfan played Champak Bansal.

2020
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Career Highlights

  1. National Film Award for Best Actor for Paan Singh Tomar
  2. Padma Shri (2011)
  3. Filmfare Awards for Haasil, Life in a... Metro, Paan Singh Tomar, and Hindi Medium
  4. Acted in internationally recognized films including Slumdog Millionaire and Life of Pi
  5. Named Rajasthan’s Resurgent Rajasthan campaign ambassador (2015)
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Irrfan Khan born?

7 January 1967

What is Irrfan Khan known for?

Actor, Producer

What is Irrfan Khan’s marital status?

Married

Who is Irrfan Khan married to?

Sutapa Sikdar