Saeed Jaffrey: ‘Fabulous’, versatile actor, who ‘will always be remembered’
Multifaceted India-born British actor Saeed Jaffrey’s love for cinema can be judged through his inspirational journey from a theatre proprietor to becoming one of the most versatile and effervescent artists across the globe. Among his other achievements, he was the first Indian actor to stage plays by English-language masters including William Shakespeare. Saeed passed away in London on Saturday, November 14 . He was 86.
Saeed was married to co-actress and travel writer Mehrunima (Madhur Jaffrey), but they parted ways in 1965. Together they have three daughters Meera, Zia and Sakina. Saeed later married casting director Jennifer Irene Sorrell in 1980. Born in Malerkotla, Punjab, in 1929 in a Punjabi Muslim family, Saeed embarked on his career by starting up a theatre company called Unity Theatre in New Delhi in late 1950s. He went on to found his own English language company, Unity Theatre, at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London. He also staged plays by English-language masters including William Shakespeare and Tennessee Williams, thus making him first Indian actor to do so.
Thereafter, he went on to join filmdom and carved out his own niche in the industry through his powerful performances in films such as Shatranj Ke Khiladi, Chashme Buddoor, Masoom, Mandi, Mashaal, Ram Teri Ganga Maili, Chaalbaaz, Ram Lakhan and Deewana Mastana. Saeed was best known to the international audience for his roles in films such as Gandhi, The Man Who Would Be King, A Passage to India, The Horsemen and The Wilby Conspiracy. He appeared regularly on the British small screen in shows such as Gangsters, The Jewel in the Crown, Common as Muck and Coronation Street.
He has worked with many well-known Indian and international film-makers such as Shekhar Kapur, Shyam Benegal, Raj Kapoor, Subhash Ghai, John Huston, James Ivory, David Lean, Richard Attenborough and Stephen Frears. Saeed was among the first Asian actors to receive British and Canadian Academy Awards nominations.
Among many honours and awards, he was conferred with the Order of the British Empire for his contributions to drama, the first Indian to be honoured with the same. It was Saeed’s simplistic yet charming and inspirational personality that he showcased on-screen through his various characters, which made his fans and personalities across various fields “sad”.
Many big dignitaries including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Bollywood stars such as Rishi Kapoor, Madhur Bhandarkar and Anupam Kher paid homage to the fabulous actor on Twitter.
Multifaceted India-born British actor Saeed Jaffrey’s love for cinema can be judged through his inspirational journey from a theatre proprietor to becoming one of the most versatile and effervescent artists across the globe. Among his other achievements, he was the first Indian actor to stage...
Multifaceted India-born British actor Saeed Jaffrey’s love for cinema can be judged through his inspirational journey from a theatre proprietor to becoming one of the most versatile and effervescent artists across the globe. Among his other achievements, he was the first Indian actor to stage plays by English-language masters including William Shakespeare. Saeed passed away in London on Saturday, November 14 . He was 86.
Saeed was married to co-actress and travel writer Mehrunima (Madhur Jaffrey), but they parted ways in 1965. Together they have three daughters Meera, Zia and Sakina. Saeed later married casting director Jennifer Irene Sorrell in 1980. Born in Malerkotla, Punjab, in 1929 in a Punjabi Muslim family, Saeed embarked on his career by starting up a theatre company called Unity Theatre in New Delhi in late 1950s. He went on to found his own English language company, Unity Theatre, at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London. He also staged plays by English-language masters including William Shakespeare and Tennessee Williams, thus making him first Indian actor to do so.
Thereafter, he went on to join filmdom and carved out his own niche in the industry through his powerful performances in films such as Shatranj Ke Khiladi, Chashme Buddoor, Masoom, Mandi, Mashaal, Ram Teri Ganga Maili, Chaalbaaz, Ram Lakhan and Deewana Mastana. Saeed was best known to the international audience for his roles in films such as Gandhi, The Man Who Would Be King, A Passage to India, The Horsemen and The Wilby Conspiracy. He appeared regularly on the British small screen in shows such as Gangsters, The Jewel in the Crown, Common as Muck and Coronation Street.
He has worked with many well-known Indian and international film-makers such as Shekhar Kapur, Shyam Benegal, Raj Kapoor, Subhash Ghai, John Huston, James Ivory, David Lean, Richard Attenborough and Stephen Frears. Saeed was among the first Asian actors to receive British and Canadian Academy Awards nominations.
Among many honours and awards, he was conferred with the Order of the British Empire for his contributions to drama, the first Indian to be honoured with the same. It was Saeed’s simplistic yet charming and inspirational personality that he showcased on-screen through his various characters, which made his fans and personalities across various fields “sad”.
Many big dignitaries including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Bollywood stars such as Rishi Kapoor, Madhur Bhandarkar and Anupam Kher paid homage to the fabulous actor on Twitter.
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