Saeed Jaffrey
Biography
Saeed Jaffrey was an Indian-born British actor whose career spanned over six decades across film, radio, stage, and television. Born in Malerkotla, Punjab, on January 8, 1929, he appeared in numerous British, American, and Bollywood productions. His extensive film credits include The Man Who Would Be King in 1975, Shatranj Ke Khiladi in 1977, Gandhi in 1982, A Passage to India in 1984, and My Beautiful Laundrette in 1985. On television, his work included roles in Gangsters, The Jewel in the Crown, Tandoori Nights, Little Napoleons, and Coronation Street, where he played Ravi Desai. He passed away on November 15, 2015, at the age of 86.
Career overview
Saeed Jaffrey OBE was an Indian-born British actor whose career spanned over six decades and encompassed film, radio, stage, and television roles across British, American, and Bollywood productions. Born on January 8, 1929, in Maler Kotla, Punjab, India, he established a prolific acting resume with numerous film and television credits before his death on November 15, 2015.
His extensive film credits featured prominent appearances in The Man Who Would Be King in 1975, Shatranj Ke Khiladi, also known as The Chess Players, in 1977, Gandhi in 1982, and both the 1965 BBC version and the 1984 film adaptation of A Passage to India. Additional film work included My Beautiful Laundrette in 1985, as well as numerous Bollywood films throughout the 1980s and 1990s. His screen career also featured roles in other cinematic projects such as Kurtulus, Tamas, and Notorious Woman.
On television, Jaffrey starred in several series, including Gangsters from 1975 to 1978, The Jewel in the Crown in 1984, Tandoori Nights from 1985 to 1987, and Little Napoleons in 1994. He additionally appeared on the television program Coronation Street portraying the character Ravi Desai, who was the father of Vikram Desai and the cousin of Dev Alah.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
162 titles- Sanam Teri Kasam (2009) as Vikram Verma
- Open Secrets (2008) as Uncle Ravi
- Bunker Hill (2008) as Mr. Farook
- Chicken Tikka Masala (2005) as C. P. Chopra
- Kaun Hai Jo Sapno Mein Aaya (2005)
- 100 Greatest Sexy Moments (2003) as Self
- The Inspector Lynley Mysteries (2002) as Akram Malik
- Snapshots (2002) as Ibrahim
- Mad Dogs (2002) as The Great Gazuka
- Day of the Sirens (2002) as Albert Page
- Mr In-Between (2001) as Mr. Basmati
- Albela (2001) as Sonia's father
- Perfect World (2000) as Maggie's Father
- Animated World Faiths (1998) as Mardana (voice)
- Aunty No. 1 (1998) as Colonel Sadanand Dhongre
- Naseeb (1998) as Dharamdas Bajaj
- Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai (1998) as Komal's Father
- Achanak (1998) as Arjun's Father
- Guru in Seven (1998) as Mr.Walia
- Dildara (1998)
- HARDtalk (1997)
- The Journey (1997) as Ashok
- Mahaanta (1997) as Inspector General of Police
- Judaai (1997) as Mr. Sahni
- Deewana Mastana (1997) as Chander Nandkishore Kapoor Sharma
- Uff! Yeh Mohabbat (1997)
- Raja Ki Ayegi Baraat (1997) as Rai Bahadur - Raja's & Ramesh's father
- Mohabbat (1997) as Madanlal "Madan" Kapoor
- Udaan (1997) as Mr. Sahay
- English Babu Desi Mem (1996) as Madadgar
- Bambai Ka Babu (1996) as Vicky's Father (as Saeed Jafrey)
- Jaan (1996) as Roshanlal
- Veergati (1995) as Pooja's dad
- Angrakshak (1995)
- Trimurti (1995) as Bhanu
- Prem (1995)
- Saajan Ki Baahon Mein (1995) as Ranvir Singh
- Kartavya (1995) as Ramakant Sahay
- Sauda (1995) as Prakash's uncle
- Dilwale (1994) as Police Commissioner
- Common As Muck (1994) as Nat Prabhakar
- Liberation (1994) as Mohammad Ali Jinnah
- Yeh Dillagi (1994) as Bhanupratap Saigal
- Little Napoleons (1994) as Vijay Shah
- Mustang: The Hidden Kingdom (1994) as Khamtruel Rimpoche (voice)
- Two Oranges and a Mango (1994) as Father
- Baali Umar Ko Salaam (1994) as Jalan
- Salaami (1994)
- Aaina (1993) as Mr. Mathur
- Ek Hi Raasta (1993) as Colonel Choudhry
- Anmol (1993) as S. J
- Aashik Aawara (1993)
- 15th August (1993) as SP Pratap Solanki
- Vansh (1992) as Police Commissioner
- Nishchaiy (1992) as Suryakant Gujral
- Suryavanshi (1992) as J.B.
- Laat Saab (1992) as Rai Sahib
- Pebble Mill (1991) as Self
- Afsana Pyar Ka (1991)
- Indrajeet (1991) as Seth Din Dayal
- Ajooba (1991) as Amir Khan
- Masala (1991) as Lallu Bhai Solanki / Mr. Tikkoo / Lord Krishna
- Yaara Dildara (1991) as Mr. Mehra
- Henna (1991) as Khan Baba
- Dil (1990) as Mr. Mehra
- Ghar Ho To Aisa (1990) as Ram Prasad
- Kishen Kanhaiya (1990) as Vidya Charan
- Shandaar (1990) as Chacha
- After Midnight (1990) as Jas
- Pathar Ke Insan (1990)
- Aandhiyan (1990) as Shakuntala's Father
- Eeshwar (1989) as Masterji (Guest Appearance)
- Ram Lakhan (1989) as Police Commissioner Arun Kashyap
- Manika, the Girl Who Lived Twice (1989)
- Chaalbaaz (1989) as Vishwannath
- Hisaab Khoon Ka (1989)
- Daata (1989) as Master Dinanath
- Aakhri Ghulam (1989)
- Tamas (1988) as Karim Khan
- Vijay (1988) as Inder Sen Gujral
- Just Ask for Diamond (1988) as Mr. Patel
- The Deceivers (1988) as Hussein
- Hero Hiralal (1988)
- Khoon Bhari Maang (1988)
- Ek Aadmi (1988)
- A Killing on the Exchange (1987) as Musquat Singh
- Partition (1987)
- Jalwa (1987) as Yakub Saeed
- Khudgarz (1987) as Brij Bhushan Saxena
- Avam (1987) as Defense Advocate
- Aulad (1987) as Anand's chacha
- A View from a Window (1987)
- Sunday Premiere (1986) as Karamat
- Living Legend - Raj Kapoor (1986) as Self
- Love Match (1986) as Karamat
- Kala Dhanda Goray Log (1986) as Pinto Ustad
- On Wings of Fire (1986) as Jadav Rana, the Hindu King
- My Beautiful Laundrette (1985) as Nasser Ali
- Tandoori Nights (1985) as Jimmy Sharma
- Ram Teri Ganga Maili (1985) as Kunj Bihari
- Saagar (1985) as Mr. D'Silva
- Karishma Kudrat Kaa (1985) as Lala Dayaluram
- Jaanoo (1985) as Shastri
- Phir Aayee Barsat (1985) as Rajhan
- The Jewel in the Crown (1984) as Ahmed Ali Gaffur Kasim Bahadur, the Nawab of Mirat
- Me & My Girl (1984) as Ranjit Sharma
- Mitch (1984) as Zahoor Ahmed
- The Far Pavilions (1984) as Biju Ram
- A Passage to India (1984) as Hamidullah
- The Razor's Edge (1984) as Raaz
- Mashaal (1984) as Kishorilal
- Nehru (1984) as Narrator
- Bhavna (1984) as Ram Kishen
- Masoom (1983) as Suri
- Mandi (1983) as Major Agarwal
- The Courtesans of Bombay (1983)
- Kissi Se Na Kehna (1983) as Lalaji
- Gandhi (1982) as Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
- Aagaman (1982)
- Star (1982) as Rana
- Sphinx (1981) as Selim
- Beyond the Next Mountain (1981) as Prime Minister
- Chashme Buddoor (1981) as Lalan Mian
- We Think the World of You (1980) as The Maharaja
- Ek Baar Phir (1980) as Saeed
- Staying On (1980) as Frankie Bhoolabhoy
- Minder (1979) as Mukerjee
- Tales of the Unexpected (1979) as Dr Kunzru
- The Last Giraffe (1979) as Taj
- Death on the Nile (1978) as Servant (uncredited)
- Strangers (1978) as Narayan Bose
- Race for Survival (1978) as Patel
- The After Dinner Joke (1978) as Merchant
- Hullabaloo Over Georgie and Bonnie's Pictures (1978) as Sri Narain
- Destiny (1978) as Gurjeet Singh Khera
- The Chess Players (1977) as Mir Roshan Ali
- Plays for Britain (1976) as Dr. Haq
- Gangsters (1976) as Aslam Rafiq
- Shuttlecock (1976) as Dr. Haq
- Rumpole of the Bailey (1975) as Dr. Ghulam Rahmat
- Two's Company (1975) as The Doctor
- The Man Who Would Be King (1975) as Billy Fish
- The Wilby Conspiracy (1975) as Anil Mukerjee
- Gangsters (1975) as Rafiq
- The Protectors (1972) as President's Aide
- The Regiment (1972)
- The Horsemen (1971) as District Chief
- Play for Today (1970) as Gurjeet Singh Khera
- Play for Today (1970) as Merchant
- Play for Today (1970) as Rafiq
- Strange Report (1969) as Ameen
- The Guru (1969) as Murad
- Stalked (1968) as The Pitch-Man
- Callan (1967)
- BBC Play of the Month (1965) as Mr. Hamidullah
- The Troubleshooters (1965) as Sunil Seth
- A Passage to India (1965) as Mr Hamidullah
- Parable (1964) as Circus Worker
- Ravi Shankar Plays a Raga (1964) as Narrator
- The Creation of Woman (1961) as Narrator (voice)
- The Sword and the Flute (1959) as Narrator
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - In Memoriam (archive footage)
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Saeed Jaffrey best known for?
Saeed Jaffrey is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including The Inspector Lynley Mysteries (2002), Mad Dogs (2002), The Bureau (2015), HARDtalk (1997).
When and where was Saeed Jaffrey born?
Saeed Jaffrey was born on January 8, 1929 in Maler Kotla, Punjab, India. They passed away on November 15, 2015.
How many credits does Saeed Jaffrey have?
Saeed Jaffrey has accumulated over 162 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1956 to 2009.
What is Saeed Jaffrey's background in cinema and television?
Saeed Jaffrey was an Indian-born British actor whose career spanned over six decades across film, radio, stage, and television. Born in Malerkotla, Punjab, on January 8, 1929, he appeared in numerous British, American, and Bollywood productions. His extensive film credits include The Man Who Would Be King in 1975, Shat...
Saeed Jaffrey by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- HARDtalk (1997) — aged about 68
- Gangsters (1976) as Aslam Rafiq — aged about 47
- Liberation (1994) as Mohammad Ali Jinnah — aged about 65
- Strange Report (1969) as Ameen — aged about 40
- Gandhi (1982) as Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel — aged about 53
- The Far Pavilions (1984) as Biju Ram — aged about 55
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