Saeed Jaffrey
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A profile
The Times of India, November 18, 2015
About Saeed Jaffrey
The veteran, who passed away at the age of 86 following a brain haemorrhage in London, had carved a niche for himself as a prolific actor with films like Shatranj Ke like Shatranj Ke Khiladi (1977), Masoom (1983), Chashme Buddoor(1981) and Mandi (1983).
Born in Punjab's Maler Kotla city, he moved to Delhi, where he founded his own English language company, Unity Theatre.
He married twice first to co-actress and travel writer Mehrunima (Madhur Jaffrey). They parted in 1965. He later married Jennifer, his casting agent, in 1980.Saeed and Madhur have three daughters together, Meera, Zia and Sakina, the latter is an actress.
He appeared in over 200 movies, some of them international projects like Gandhi, The Man Who Would Be King, A Passage to India, Sphinx, My Beautiful Laundrett. The Deceivers and After Midnight. He was also part of TV series like Gangster, The Jewel in the Crown, Common as Muck and Coronation Street. He was the first Indian to be conferred with the Order of the British Empire for his contributions to drama.
Career
The Times of India, November 17, 2015
Avijit Ghosh Early in his career, Saeed Jaffrey was travelling with a Shakespeare theatre company in the US when he was introduced to a nun as an “Indian“ actor. “Which tribe?,“ she asked him.
The anecdote, narrated with relish during a recent TV interview by the actor, who passed away at the age of 86 on Saturday in London, puts his career in perspective. At a time when the West was an intimidating, almost forbidden frontier for most actors in India -the underfeted I S Johar being an exception -Jaffrey was a lodestar for anyone who dreamt beyond Bollywood.
By the 1980s, the diwan's son from Punjab's Maler Kotla was one of the most recognisable Indian faces in Hollywood (The Man Who Would be King, Gandhi, Sphinx) and British filmsTV (My Beautiful Laundrette, The Far Pavilions, Jewel in the Crown, Tandoori Nights). Much before the term became common currency , Jaffrey was a successful crossover artiste.
“He was the first Asian face of consequence on British television and was a household name in that country. For me, Saeed will remain an inspiration,“ says actor Victor Banerjee, who worked with him in James Ivory's Hullabaloo...' and Satyajit Ray's `Shatranj Ke Khiladi'.
Jaffrey's performance as the obsessive chess player oblivious to the political tumult around earned him a Filmfare award for best supporting actor. But it was his Lallan mian, the genial and golden-heart paanwala in Sai Paranjyape's `Chashme Buddoor' that endures in cinegoers' hearts.
Rakesh Bedi, who played one of the film's leading characters, recalls how Jaffrey was introduced to him as a “kamaal ka actor from London“ before the shooting. “Throughout our meeting he spoke in his measured British accent. I couldn't visualise him in the role of a panwaala. But as the camera rolled, he was totally transformed,“ says Bedi.
Director Govind Nihalani, who worked with him in `Tamas', says there was something unique in the way he delivered his lines. “He didn't remind you of any other actor. He had his own pauses, own emphasis. Even when he was reciting a dialogue, Jaffrey seemed to be speaking straight from his heart,“ says Nihalani.
Jaffrey studied history at Allahabad University and worked in All India Radio. He went on a Fulbright scholarship to Washington where he studied drama. During his days of struggle in the US and the UK, he slept on benches and even worked as a sales assistant at Harrod's during Christmas.
In the 1960s and early 70s, when most Asian roles were stereotypical, blink-and-miss parts, the five feet, five inches tall Jaffrey took up the challenge of bringing spark and spunk to parts spread over 45 seconds of screen time.
For the relatively small role of Vallabhbhai Patel in Richard Attenborough's `Gandhi', Jaffrey gorged on food to put on weight, tanned himself and did push-ups, just like the nationalist lead er used to. “What you make of the role that you are offered is what matters,“ he said in an interview.
In time, Jaffrey became the first Asian to be awarded OBE for drama. He also appeared on Broadway .
After impressing abroad, he become among the busiest character actors in India, often shooting for three-four films in a day during the 198090s. `Ram Teri Ganga Maili', `Masoom', `Saagar', `Henna', `Dil' and `Ajooba' are some of his more popular films.
From all accounts, he was abundant in generosity and a raconteur par excellence.“During a New Year's party at a five-star hotel in Bombay ,I saw him distribute a wad of currency notes among waiters. He wanted to share his happiness,“ remembers Bedi.
Jaffrey married twice.First to Madhur Bahadur who became famous as the cookbook writer, Madhur Jaffrey. They had three daughters (Zia, Meera and Sakina).He later married casting agent Jennifer Sorrell.
Banerjee recalls the times and laughs he shared in London with Jaffrey -writers Tariq Ali and Salman Rushdie often part of the group. “I know he's “Jaffing“ (that's an in-house joke) on a happy cloud somewhere above us all,“ he says.
Filmography
As an actor
1961 The Creation of Woman (Short)
1963 The Journey of Poh Lin (TV)
1963 Armstrong Circle Theatre (TV Series)
1964 Parable (Short)
1965 BBC Play of the Month (TV Series)
1965 Passage to India (TV)
1967 Play It Hot, Play It Cool (TV)
1967 There's Always a Next Time (TV)
1967 Z Cars (TV Series)
1967-1969 Mogul (TV Series)
1968 Never the Twain (TV)
1968 Stalked (Short)
1969 Absolute Aggers and Torters (TV)
1969 It's a Very Bad Day for Travelling (TV)
1969 Report 3424: Epidemic A Most Curious Crime (TV)
1969 The Worst Soldier I Ever Saw (TV)
1969 Callan (TV Series)
1969 Strange Report (TV Series)
1969 The Guru
1969 Thirty-Minute Theatre (TV Series)
1970 Hands with the Magic Touch (TV)
1970 ITV Sunday Night Theatre (TV Series)
1970 The Doctors (TV Series)
1971 The Horsemen
1972 Adam Smith (TV Series)
1973 Heat (TV)
1973 Lost Godess (TV)
1973 With a Little Help from My Friends (TV)
1973 The Adventures of Black Beauty (TV Series)
1973 The Protectors (TV Series)
1973 The Regiment (TV Series)
1974 Prelude (TV)
1974 Le soleil se lève à l'est (TV Mini-Series)
1974 Notorious Woman (TV Mini-Series)
1975 Hunger Strike (TV)
1975 The Patient (TV)
1975 Gangsters (TV)
1975 The Man Who Would Be King
1975 The Wilby Conspiracy
1975 Two's Company (TV Series)
1975-1978 Play for Today (TV Series)
1975-1979 Crown Court (TV Series)
1976 Shuttlecock (TV)
1976 Where There's Life There's Soap (TV)
1976 Lucky Feller (TV Series)
1976 Plays for Britain (TV Series)
1976-1978 Gangsters (TV Series)
1977 Shatranj Ke Khilari
1978 Destiny (TV)
1978 Double Peril (TV)
1978 East of the Equator (TV)
1978 Enter the White Devil (TV)
1978 Race for Survival (TV)
1978 The AfterDinner Joke (TV)
1978 The Red Executioner (TV)
1978 While Beauty Sleeps (TV)
1978 Hullabaloo Over Georgie and Bonnie's Pictures (TV Movie)
1978 Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color (TV Series)
1979 My Brother's Son (TV)
1979 The Bengal Tiger (TV)
1979 Minder (TV Series)
1979 The Last Giraffe (TV Movie)
1979 Turtle's Progress (TV Series)
1980 Poison (TV)
1980 Staying On (TV Movie)
1980 Tales of the Unexpected (TV Series)
1981 A Dear Green Place (TV)
1981 Chashme Buddoor
1981 Sphinx
1981 Strangers (TV Series)
1982 Aagman
1982 Gandhi
1982 Star
1983 Ek Din Bahu Ka
1983 Kissi Se Na Kehna
1983 Mandi
1983 Masoom
1983 Romance
1984 Incidents at a Wedding (TV)
1984 Pandora's Box (TV)
1984 Regimental Silver (TV)
1984 The Ideal Husband (TV)
1984 A Family Matter (TV)
1984 A Passage to India
1984 Asambhava
1984 Bhavna
1984 Mashaal
1984 Me and My Girl (TV Series)
1984 Mitch (TV Series)
1984 The Far Pavilions (TV Mini-Series)
1984 The Jewel in the Crown (TV Mini-Series)
1984 The Razor's Edge
1985 Cricketer
1985 Jaanoo
1985 Karishma Kudrat Kaa
1985 My Beautiful Laundrette
1985 Phir Aayee Barsat
1985 Ram Teri Ganga Maili
1985 Saagar
1985-1987 Tandoori Nights (TV Series)
1986 Kala Dhanda Goray Log
1986 Love Match (TV Movie)
1986 Mohammed's Daughter (Short)
1986 Qatl
1986 Tamas (TV Mini-Series)
1987 Holy Deadlock (TV)
1987 Sage Struck (TV)
1987 The Captains and the Kings Depart (TV)
1987 Welcome Home Sweetie (TV)
1987 A Killing on the Exchange (TV Mini-Series)
1987 Alaudin's Gambol (TV)
1987 Aulad
1987 Avam
1987 Beyond the Next Mountain
1987 Jalwa
1987 Khudgarz
1987 Partition
1988 Diamond's Edge
1988 Ek Aadmi
1988 Hero Hiralal
1988 Kab Tak Chup Rahungi
1988 Khoon Bhari Maang
1988 The Deceivers
1988 Vijay
1989 Aakhri Ghulam
1989 Akanksha (TV Movie)
1989 ChaalBaaz
1989 Daata
1989 Eeshwar
1989 Hard Cases (TV Series)
1989 Hisaab Khoon Ka
1989 Manika, une vie plus tard
1989 Ram Lakhan
1990 Aandhiyan
1990 After Midnight
1990 Dil
1990 Ghar Ho To Aisa
1990 Kishen Kanhaiya
1990 Naya Khoon
1990 Pathar Ke Insan
1990 Shandaar
1990 Yaadon Ka Mausam
1991 Rumpole and the Quacks (TV)
1991 Afsana Pyar Ka
1991 Ajooba
1991 Gunehgar Kaun
1991 Henna
1991 Indrajeet
1991 Rumpole of the Bailey (TV Series)
1991 The Village by the Sea (TV Series)
1991 Yaara Dildara
1992 Jai Kaali
1992 Laat Saab
1992 Masala
1992 Nishchaiy
1992 Suryavanshi
1992 Vansh
1993 Aaina
1993 Aashik Aawara
1993 Anmol
1993 Aulad Ke Dushman
1993 Balmaa
1993 Ek Hi Raasta
1993 Le prix d'une femme (TV Movie)
199315th August
1994 Path to Power (TV)
1994 Sleeping with the Enemy (TV)
1994 The Big Interview (TV)
1994 The Godfathers of Education (TV)
1994 Two Oranges and a Mango (TV)
1994 Baali Umar Ko Salaam
1994 Bollywood
1994 Deewana Sanam
1994 Dilwale
1994 Kurtulus (TV Mini-Series)
1994 Little Napoleons (TV Mini-Series)
1994 Salaami
1994 Stages (TV Series)
1994 Yeh Dillagi
1994-1997 Common As Muck (TV Series)
1995 Pilot (TV)
1995 Angrakshak
1995 Gambler
1995 Guddu
1995 Jai Vikraanta
1995 Kartavya
1995 Param Vir Chakra
1995 Prem
1995 Saajan Ki Baahon Mein
1995 Sauda
1995 Sometime, Never (TV Series)
1995 Trimurti
1995 Vartmaan
1995 Veergati
1996 Bambai Ka Babu
1996 English Babu Desi Mem
1996 Jaan
1996 Megha
1996/I Lulu
1997 Bandit Lovers
1997 Deewana Mastana
1997 Dil Deewana Maane Na
1997 Ek Phool Teen Kante
1997 Grandpa Chatterjee (TV Movie)
1997 Judaai
1997 Junoon (TV Series)
1997 Mahaanta: The Film
1997 Mohabbat
1997 Naseeb
1997 Raja Ki Ayegi Baraat
1997 Udaan
1997 Uff! Yeh Mohabbat
1997/I The Journey
1998 Achanak
1998 Angaar Vadee
1998 Aunty No.1
1998 Dildaara
1998 Guru in Seven
1998 Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai
1999 Coronation Street (TV Series)
2000 The Journey Back voice (TV)
2000 Being Considered
2000 Sanam Teri Kasam
2000 Second Generation
2000 The Canterbury Tales (TV Series)
2001 Albela
2001 Family Values (TV)
2001 Mr In-Between
2001 On Wings of Fire
2001 Perfect World (TV Series)
2002 Day of the Sirens
2002 Mad Dogs
2002 Pyaar Ki Dhun
2002/I Snapshots
2003 Deception on His Mind (TV)
2003 Cross My Heart
2003 The Inspector Lynley Mysteries (TV Series)
2004 Listen to Me (TV)
2004 Doctors (TV Series)
2004 Holby City (TV Series)
2004 In the Line of Fire (TV)
2004 Who Is in My Dream?
2005 Chicken Tikka Masala
2005 Four Brothers and a Funeral (Short)
2005 Zoltan the Great (Short)
2006 Bhavishya: The Future
2007 Be More Ethnic (TV Movie)
2008 Open Secrets (Short)
2008 The Battle for Bunker Hill
2011 Everywhere and Nowhere
Vignettes
The Times of India, Nov 17, 2015
Roshmila Bhattacharya, Mumbai Mirror
Anil Kapoor: Saeed Jaffrey sought the camera's blessings before every shot
I met Saeed Jaffrey saab for the first time during the shooting of 'Mashaal' in 1984. I remember him as a fair gentleman who was very British. Hearing him speak angrezi, I wondered if he could even speak Hindi. I was stumped when I heard him. His command over Hindi and Urdu was unbelievable! And that was perhaps why Satyajit Ray signed him for 'Shatranj Ke Khiladi'.
READ: Veteran actor Saeed Jaffrey passes away at 86 He played Mir Roshan Ali while Sanjeev Kumar was Mirza Sajjad Ali in the '77 historical drama. The inseparable buddies are so obsessed with the game of chess that they neglect their wives, abandon their families and disown their responsibilities to play in exile, untroubled that the British are set to overthrow their Nawab, Wajid Ali Shah, and take control of Awadh. I am a huge admirer of Sanjeev Kumar but in this film, I have to admit, Saeed saab outscored him with his perfect diction. He looked every inch the Lucknavi nobleman.
Even off screen, he looked like a respectable raees till he suddenly started abusing. But he made even gaalis sound beautiful, like pearls or, even better, Ghalib ke sher. Once a fan walked up to him and started praising him to the skies, "Saeed saab aap ne zabardast kaam kiya hai." Delighted, he wondered which film the man was talking about, only to learn that he was really impressed by a Pan Parag commercial and not a performance with Sean Connery, Dilip Kumar or Sanjeev Kumar. Bas aur kya, he abused the man roundly. Satish Kaushik does a great takeoff on this! Besides 'Mashaal', we worked together in 'Vijay', 'Eeshwar', 'Ram Lakhan', 'Ghar Ho To Aisa' and 'Trimurti'. In 'Ram Lakhan', he had more scenes with Raakheeji but in 'Eeshwar', we had a lot of screen time together and he impressed me with his timing.
His confrontation scenes with Raza Murad in 'Ram Teri Ganga Maili' when he takes up for Mandakini's Ganga were also memorable. High drama as opposed to the subtle performance in 'Shatranj Ke Khiladi'. Even in 'Mashaal' he gave Dilip (Kumar) saab equal takkar! On the sets you wondered if he would "connect" on screen. Not only did he connect, he was pure magic on camera.In fact, the camera was his God. Before every shot, he would go up to it, touch it, reverently, and seek its blessings.
He had just one weakness. He loved drinking. But no matter how long he stayed up, he'd be on the sets at 7 am sharp, fresh, raring to go, seeking the camera's blessings. I hadn't met him since he went on a sabbatical. But Saaed saab will always be remembered for his talent, dignity, passion and command over the language.
As told to Roshmila Bhattacharya
