FILE - In this Jan. 22, 2018 file photo, actor Irrfan Khan poses for a portrait to promote the film "Puzzle" during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. Khan, a veteran character actor in Bollywood movies and one of India's best-known exports to Hollywood, died Wednesday, April 29, 2020, after being admitted to Mumbai's Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani hospital with a colon infection. He was 54. (Photo by Taylor Jewell/Invision/AP, File)
The Associated Press
NEW DELHI (AP) - Irrfan Khan, a veteran character actor in Bollywood movies and one of India's best-known exports to Hollywood, has died. He was 54.
Khan played the police inspector in 'œSlumdog Millionaire'ť and the park executive Masrani in 'œJurassic World.'ť He also appeared in 'œThe Amazing Spider-Man'ť and the adventure fantasy 'œLife of Pi.'ť
Khan died Wednesday after being admitted to Mumbai's Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani hospital with a colon infection.
'œIrrfan was a strong soul, someone who fought till the very end and always inspired everyone who came close to him,'ť a statement released by the actor's team said.
Khan made his screen debut in the Academy Award-nominated 1988 drama 'œSalaam Bombay!,'ť a tale of Mumbai's street children. He worked with directors Mira Nair, Wes Anderson and Ang Lee.
Khan in 2018 was diagnosed with a rare neuroendocrine cancer and underwent months of treatment in the United Kingdom.
'œI trust, I have surrendered,'ť he wrote in a heartfelt note after he broke the news of his battle with cancer.
Khan won a number of film awards in India, including a 2012 Indian National Film Award for best actor for his performance in 'œPaan Singh Tomar,'ť a compelling tale of a seven-time national champion athlete who quit India's armed forces to rule the Chambal ravines in central India.
Khan received an Independent Spirit Award for supporting actor in 2006 for the Indian-American drama 'œThe Namesake'ť and a viewers' choice award at the Cannes festival 2013 for his role in the Indian romantic drama 'œThe Lunchbox.'ť
Khan also starred in the Hamlet-inspired 'œHaider,'ť a Bollywood film set in militarized Himalayan Kashmir.
Tributes came from Bollywood, including from fellow actor Amitabh Bachchan, who said Khan was an 'œincredible talent'ť and 'œa prolific contributor to the World of Cinema.'ť
Khan 'œleft us too soon,'ť Bachchan wrote on Twitter.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that 'œKhan's demise is a loss to the world of cinema and theatre.'ť
In an interview with The Associated Press in 2018, Khan said: 'œI've seen life from a completely different angle. You sit down and you see the other side and that's fascinating. I'm engaged on a journey.'ť
Khan's last Bollywood movie, 'œAngrezi Medium,'ť a sequel to one of his biggest hits, 'œHindi Medium'ť (2017), was released before India went into a lockdown in March because of the coronavirus pandemic.
He is survived by his wife, television writer and producer Sutapa Sikdar, and sons, Babil and Ayan.
FILE- In this Oct. 23, 2017 file photo, Bollywood actor Irrfan Khan watches a Vivo Pro Kabaddi league match in Mumbai, India. Khan, a veteran character actor in Bollywood movies and one of India's most well-known exports to Hollywood, has died. He was 54. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool, File)
The Associated Press
FILE- In this May 17, 2017 file photo, Bollywood actor Irrfan Khan looks on during a press conference to promote his movie "Hindi Medium" in Ahmadabad, India. Khan, a veteran character actor in Bollywood movies and one of India's most well-known exports to Hollywood, has died. He was 54. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki, File)
The Associated Press
FILE- In this May 3, 2013 file photo, Bollywood actor Irrfan Khan attends the National Film Awards ceremony where he was presented the Best Actor award for 2012 in New Delhi, India. Khan, a veteran character actor in Bollywood movies and one of India's best-known exports to Hollywood, died on Wednesday, April 29, 2020, after being admitted to Mumbai's Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani hospital with a colon infection. He was 54. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup, File)
The Associated Press
Indian policemen stand guard during the funeral of Bollywood actor Irrfan Khan, outside a graveyard in Mumbai, India, Wednesday, April 29, 2020. Khan was a veteran character actor in Bollywood movies and one of India's best-known exports to Hollywood. Khan died Wednesday after being admitted to Mumbai's Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani hospital with a colon infection. He was 54. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)
The Associated Press
FILE - This Aug. 9, 2017 file photo shows Indian actor Irrfan Khan posing during the photocall for the film "The Song of Scorpions" at the 70th Locarno International Film Festival in Locarno, Switzerland. Khan, a veteran character actor in Bollywood movies and one of India's best-known exports to Hollywood, died Wednesday, April 29, 2020, after being admitted to Mumbai's Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani hospital with a colon infection. He was 54. (Urs Flueeler/Keystone via AP, File)
The Associated Press
FILE - This Jan. 20, 2014 file photo shows Indian actor Irrfan Khan poses during a portrait session at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. Khan, a veteran character actor in Bollywood movies and one of India's best-known exports to Hollywood, died Wednesday, April 29, 2020, after being admitted to Mumbai's Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani hospital with a colon infection. He was 54. (Photo by Victoria Will/Invision/AP, File)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this May 21, 2007 file photo, Indian actor Irrfan Khan, from left, American actress Angelina Jolie, American actor Dan Futterman and British actress Archie Panjabi pose during a photo call for the film "A Mighty Heart," at the 60th International film festival in Cannes, southern France. Khan, a veteran character actor in Bollywood movies and one of India's best-known exports to Hollywood, died Wednesday, April 29, 2020, after being admitted to Mumbai's Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani hospital with a colon infection. He was 54.(AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, File)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this Jan. 25, 2009 file photo, members of the cast of "Slumdog Millionaire," from left, Irrfan Khan, Dev Patel, Freida Pinto and Anil Kapoor, pose backstage with the award for outstanding performance by a cast in a motion picture during the 15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles. Khan, a veteran character actor in Bollywood movies and one of India's best-known exports to Hollywood, died Wednesday, April 29, 2020, after being admitted to Mumbai's Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani hospital with a colon infection. He was 54. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)
The Associated Press