Remembering Saeed Jaffrey, one of the most beloved actors of British-Indian cinema and television, on his 4th death anniversary today.

Remembering Saeed Jaffrey, one of the most beloved actors of British-Indian cinema and television, on his 4th death anniversary today.

Saeed Jaffrey was one of the first Indian actors to successfully establish a career in both Hindi cinema and international movies by starring in classics like “Shatranj Ke Khiladi”, “Gandhi” and “My Beautiful Laundrette”.

One of the most accomplished actors of his time, Jaffrey started his career in All India Radio before moving to America as a Fulbright scholar where he studied drama from The Catholic University of America. He was the first Indian to take Shakespearean plays on a tour to the U.S., which he left to marry his first wife Madhur Jaffrey.

He starred in as many as 100 Hindi films, including acclaimed projects like Satyajit Ray’s “Shatranj Ke Khiladi” opposite the late Sanjeev Kumar. He credited Ray for bringing him back to Indian films.

His famous Hindi films include “Chashme Buddoor”, “Masoom”, “Kissi Se Na Kehna”, “Mandi”, “Mashaal” “Ram Teri Ganga Maili”, “Ram Lakhan”, “Ajooba” and“Henna” among many others.

Jaffrey’s international career saw him working with Sean Connery, Michael Caine, Roshan Seth, James Ivory, Richard Attenborough and Daniel Day-Lewis.

His noted international films are “The Man Who Would Be King”, “Death on the Nile”, “Sphinx”, “The Jewel in the Crown”, “A Passage to India”, “My Beautiful Laundrette”, “The Deceivers”, “After Midnight”, “On Wings of Fire” and “Chicken Tikka Masala”.

Jaffrey received a BAFTA nomination for “My Beautiful Laundrette”.

He is also the first Indian to receive the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his contributions to drama.

Saeed Jaffrey, who delighted fans all over the world with his masterful screen presence and performances, passed away on 15 November 2015.

May his soul rest in eternal peace.