Irrfan added an extra “r” to his name because he liked the sound of it — not for numerology.

He Changed the Spelling of His Name

Before acting, he dreamt of playing cricket professionally and even got selected for a CK Nayudu tournament (India’s under-23 cricket).

He Wanted to Become a Cricketer

He got a scholarship to study at the prestigious National School of Drama (NSD), otherwise he couldn’t have afforded the fees.

He Couldn’t Afford Acting School Initially

Irrfan was initially cast in Mira Nair’s Salaam Bombay! but his scenes were later edited out — a huge disappointment early in his career.

He Almost Debuted in ‘Salaam Bombay!’

For years, he rejected mainstream Bollywood roles because he felt they lacked depth — even though it made his early career struggle harder.

He Disliked Doing “Typical Bollywood Roles”

He appeared in films like The Namesake, A Mighty Heart, The Amazing Spider-Man, Inferno, and Jurassic World — rare for an Indian actor of his generation.

He Starred in Several International Projects

In 2018, Irrfan was diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumor, a very rare type of cancer, and he fought it bravely for two years.

He Suffered from a Rare Cancer

Irrfan didn’t like watching himself on screen. He believed it would make him overly self-conscious as an actor. in her own curves promotes a more inclusive definition of beauty.

He Never Watched His Own Movies

Despite undergoing intense treatment, he came back to shoot Angrezi Medium, his final film — a true testament to his passion for acting.

He Shot ‘Angrezi Medium’ While Battling Cancer