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Saeed Jaffrey, Actor in ‘Gandhi’ and ‘The Man Who Would Be King,’ Dies at 86 Saeed Jaffrey, Actor in ‘Gandhi’ and ‘The Man Who Would Be King,’ Dies at 86
(1 day later)
Saeed Jaffrey, an Indian-born character actor known internationally for his work in films like “Gandhi,” “The Man Who Would Be King” and “My Beautiful Laundrette,” died on Nov. 14 in London. He was 86.Saeed Jaffrey, an Indian-born character actor known internationally for his work in films like “Gandhi,” “The Man Who Would Be King” and “My Beautiful Laundrette,” died on Nov. 14 in London. He was 86.
The cause was a brain hemorrhage, his wife, Jennifer Jaffrey, said.The cause was a brain hemorrhage, his wife, Jennifer Jaffrey, said.
In his native India, Mr. Jaffrey was best known for playing roles he once characterized as “the naughty uncle” in a host of Bollywood films. But he had a rare crossover career in radio, film and television and on the stage that encompassed three continents.In his native India, Mr. Jaffrey was best known for playing roles he once characterized as “the naughty uncle” in a host of Bollywood films. But he had a rare crossover career in radio, film and television and on the stage that encompassed three continents.
After working in the theater in New York — he appeared on Broadway in a stage version of E. M. Forster’s novel “A Passage to India” — he moved to London, where he appeared on the West End and worked for the BBC, writing and broadcasting scripts in Urdu, Hindi and English.After working in the theater in New York — he appeared on Broadway in a stage version of E. M. Forster’s novel “A Passage to India” — he moved to London, where he appeared on the West End and worked for the BBC, writing and broadcasting scripts in Urdu, Hindi and English.
In “The Man Who Would Be King,” John Huston’s 1975 adaptation of a Rudyard Kipling novel, he played an interpreter who helped two former British soldiers in India, played by Michael Caine and Sean Connery, in their efforts to amass a fortune. It was his breakout role.In “The Man Who Would Be King,” John Huston’s 1975 adaptation of a Rudyard Kipling novel, he played an interpreter who helped two former British soldiers in India, played by Michael Caine and Sean Connery, in their efforts to amass a fortune. It was his breakout role.
His first Indian film, “The Chess Players,” directed by the celebrated Bengali filmmaker Satyajit Ray, was released two years later.His first Indian film, “The Chess Players,” directed by the celebrated Bengali filmmaker Satyajit Ray, was released two years later.
While appearing in scores of films in India, Mr. Jaffrey also continued acting in movies and on television in Britain and America.While appearing in scores of films in India, Mr. Jaffrey also continued acting in movies and on television in Britain and America.
He played the Indian statesman Vallabhbhai Patel in Richard Attenborough’s “Gandhi” in 1982 and was in the British mini-series “The Jewel in the Crown” in 1984 and, in 1985, in a major part as a hustling businessman in Stephen Frears’s “My Beautiful Laundrette” and in a smaller role in David Lean’s “A Passage to India.”He played the Indian statesman Vallabhbhai Patel in Richard Attenborough’s “Gandhi” in 1982 and was in the British mini-series “The Jewel in the Crown” in 1984 and, in 1985, in a major part as a hustling businessman in Stephen Frears’s “My Beautiful Laundrette” and in a smaller role in David Lean’s “A Passage to India.”
Mr. Jaffrey studied acting at the Catholic University of America in Washington, and eagerly accepted all kinds of roles.Mr. Jaffrey studied acting at the Catholic University of America in Washington, and eagerly accepted all kinds of roles.
“I said to myself it doesn’t matter if it’s a six-line part,” he said in an interview with the British newspaper The Independent in 2011. “If they offer it to you, take it — enrich it with your background and everything — so much that people will never forget it. That became my religion.”“I said to myself it doesn’t matter if it’s a six-line part,” he said in an interview with the British newspaper The Independent in 2011. “If they offer it to you, take it — enrich it with your background and everything — so much that people will never forget it. That became my religion.”
The Indian director Sai Paranjpye, who gave Mr. Jaffrey one of the most fondly remembered of his Indian roles, recalled seeing him practice this religion. Ms. Paranjpye had offered him the small part as a vendor in her 1981 comedy, “Chashme Buddoor.”The Indian director Sai Paranjpye, who gave Mr. Jaffrey one of the most fondly remembered of his Indian roles, recalled seeing him practice this religion. Ms. Paranjpye had offered him the small part as a vendor in her 1981 comedy, “Chashme Buddoor.”
He visited the vendors around the narrow lanes near the Jama Masjid mosque in Old Delhi, speaking to them while aiming to grasp their diction and vocabulary, she said.He visited the vendors around the narrow lanes near the Jama Masjid mosque in Old Delhi, speaking to them while aiming to grasp their diction and vocabulary, she said.
Mr. Jaffrey was born on Jan. 8, 1929, in Malerkotla, Punjab, to Hamid Hussain Jaffrey, a physician, and Hadia Begum.Mr. Jaffrey was born on Jan. 8, 1929, in Malerkotla, Punjab, to Hamid Hussain Jaffrey, a physician, and Hadia Begum.
After studying history at the University of Allahabad, he formed an acting troupe in Delhi that performed works by Shakespeare and Oscar Wilde, before moving to the United States and marrying his first wife, the former Madhur Bahadur, a fellow actor who, as Madhur Jaffrey, went on to become a successful cookbook author. The couple had three daughters before they divorced.After studying history at the University of Allahabad, he formed an acting troupe in Delhi that performed works by Shakespeare and Oscar Wilde, before moving to the United States and marrying his first wife, the former Madhur Bahadur, a fellow actor who, as Madhur Jaffrey, went on to become a successful cookbook author. The couple had three daughters before they divorced.
Beside his second wife, he is survived by his daughters, Zia, Meera and Sakina.Beside his second wife, he is survived by his daughters, Zia, Meera and Sakina.
He was known as a man of passions: for drink (he would bring his own whiskey on trips to India, a friend recalled), for women (he admitted that infidelity led to the collapse of his first marriage) and for his craft. He endured years of odd jobs, including one as a department store sales clerk, before achieving success. Mr. Jaffrey was known as a man of passions: for drink (he would bring his own whiskey on trips to India, a friend recalled), for women (he admitted that infidelity led to the collapse of his first marriage) and for his craft. He endured years of odd jobs, including one as a department store sales clerk, before achieving success.
He was awarded the Order of the British Empire in 1995 for his contributions to drama.He was awarded the Order of the British Empire in 1995 for his contributions to drama.
But his fame in India far surpassed his popular recognition abroad. Mark Tully, a former BBC journalist who has lived in India for decades, met Mr. Jaffrey when he was voicing interviews for the BBC World Service in the late 1960s.But his fame in India far surpassed his popular recognition abroad. Mark Tully, a former BBC journalist who has lived in India for decades, met Mr. Jaffrey when he was voicing interviews for the BBC World Service in the late 1960s.
Mr. Tully remembered watching the 1985 Bollywood film “Ram Teri Ganga Maili,” in which Mr. Jaffrey played the uncle of one of the main characters, at a local movie theater.Mr. Tully remembered watching the 1985 Bollywood film “Ram Teri Ganga Maili,” in which Mr. Jaffrey played the uncle of one of the main characters, at a local movie theater.
“There was sort of a big family gathering and a lot of chaos going on,” he said, “and suddenly the uncle arrived and the whole cinema started cheering, ‘Chacha aa gaya!’ ” — Hindi for “Uncle has come.”“There was sort of a big family gathering and a lot of chaos going on,” he said, “and suddenly the uncle arrived and the whole cinema started cheering, ‘Chacha aa gaya!’ ” — Hindi for “Uncle has come.”