Irshad Panjatan
Born: 1931-09-07 in Hyderabad, India
Known For: Acting
Biography
Irshad Panjatan (born September 7, 1931, in Hyderabad) is an Indian-German actor and mime. Irshad Panjatan began his artistic career in India, initially at the renowned Hindustani Theatre, where he worked as both an actor and a director. As early as the 1950s, he specialized in the art of pantomime—a discipline then scarcely known in India—drawing inspiration from figures such as Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. Panjatan is regarded as one of the most significant pioneers of modern pantomime in India and has performed internationally with solo programs since the 1960s. Since the 1970s, Panjatan has lived in Berlin, where he ran a pantomime studio together with his wife, Ingrid, and gave numerous stage performances. From the 1990s onward, he appeared increasingly in German film and television productions. He gained widespread public recognition in 2001 for his role as the Shoshone chief "Listiger Lurch" (Cunning Newt) in Michael Herbig's film *Der Schuh des Manitu*. This was followed by roles in films such as *Kebab Connection*, *Free Rainer – Dein Fernseher lügt*, and *Iron Sky*, as well as guest appearances in television series including *Tatort*, *Der Bulle von Tölz*, *Stubbe – Von Fall zu Fall*, and *Pastewka*. In 2022, he came out of retirement to appear in the film *Träume sind wie wilde Tiger*.
Filmography
2021
- Dreams Are Like Wild Tigers as Daada
2017
- Triple Ex as Kuklav
- Bullyparade: The Movie as Costa
2015
- Marry Me! as Ankur
- Buddha's Little Finger
2013
- The Physician as Pharmacist
- Vijay and I as Sikh Man in Restaurant
2012
- Iron Sky as Indian Representative
2008
- African Race as Diener Radjid (uncredited)
2007
- Reclaim Your Brain as Gopal
2005
- Pastewka as Cab Driver
2001
- Manitou's Shoe as Chief Listiger Lurch
1995
- Unser Charly as Raoul Patel
- Stubbe – Von Fall zu Fall as Abuwaran Panchapakresan
1971
- Khilonewala as Khilonewala