Published on 12:24 PM, July 10, 2023

He holds the Guinness World Record for appearing in most international films

Saeed Jaffrey with Shirley Anne Field in "My Beautiful Laundrette", 1985 Photos: Collected

An Indian actor holds the Guinness World Record for appearances in most international films, but it is not any of the usual Bollywood celebrities like Irrfan Khan, Aishwarya Rai, and Priyanka Chopra.

British-Indian actor Saeed Jaffrey, has been recognised by Guinness World Records for his appearance in international films. With appearances in 18 international productions, Jaffrey holds the prestigious title of being the actor with the most international film credits to his name.

Saeed Jaffrey as the Nawab of Mirat in the hit TV drama series "The Jewel in the Crown", 1984.

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, international films are those that are produced by studios or production houses from multiple countries. Among Jaffrey's notable international works are renowned films such as "Gandhi", "A Passage To India", "Masala", and "My Beautiful Launderette".

Saeed Jaffrey, left, as Billy Fish in "The Man Who Would Be King" with Michael Caine and Sean Connery.

The citation from Guinness highlights Jaffrey's diverse career, stating that he made his film debut in 1977 with the Indian film "The Chess Players (Shatranj Ke Khiladi)" and went on to star in nearly 100 Hindi films and one Punjabi film. In 1998, Jaffrey made a conscious decision to shift his focus to international films and British television. Notably, he became part of the first Asian family to feature regularly in the United Kingdom's longest-running soap opera, "Coronation Street". 

Jaffrey, right, with Dennis Waterman in an episode of "Minder" from 1979.

Jaffrey's contributions to cinema were vast and diverse, with notable performances such as portraying Sardar Patel in "Gandhi" and supporting roles in films like "Masoom", "Saagar", "Ram Lakhan", "Ajooba", and "Dil", among others. His last film role was in "Everywhere and Nowhere", released in 2011. The veteran actor passed away in 2015 at the age of 86, leaving behind a rich legacy in both Indian and international cinema.