Actor Saeed Jaffrey dies at 86

Hyderabad, Nov 16: International actor Saeed Jaffrey passed away today at the age of 86, the actor's niece Shaheen wrote on Facebook. Shaheen announced: "Today, a generation of Jaffreys has passed away. Saeed Jaffrey has joined his brothers and sister and is rejoicing in the lap of his Heavenly Father, eternally." Saeed Jaffrey had acted in acclaimed films like Satyajit Ray's 'Shatranj ke Khiladi'. He won the Filmfare Award for Best Actor for that film and Sai Paranjpye's 'Chashme Baddoor'. He appeared in several international films including 'Gandhi' and 'A Passage To India'. He also appeared in the TV shows 'Tandoori Nights', 'The Far Pavilions' and 'The Jewel In The Crown'. Sean Connery, Michael Caine and Pierce Brosnan were some of his co-stars. Saeed Jaffrey acted in several Hindi movies like Khoon Bhari Maang, Naseeb and Ram Lakhan. He was born in Malerkotla, Punjab and studied at Aligarh Muslim University, the Wynberg Allen School and Allahabad University. He began his stage career by setting up a theatre company of his own in New Delhi. He then shifted to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. Saeed Jaffrey was the first Indian to receive the Order of the British Empire or OBE. He was married twice. First to actress-author Madhur Jaffrey. He had three children with her. His daughter Sakina is a well-known actress. Madhur and Saeed were divorced in 1965. In 1980, he married casting director Jennifer Sorrell and remained married to her until his death.