~Angad Khanna - Kaisa Ye Pyaar Hai (2005 - 2006)~
Kaisa Ye Pyaar Hai marked the advent of a super star on the Indian Television. In an era of saas bahu sagas came a youth based love story of a rockstar and her fan which created an uncontrollable frenzy. Angad Khaana was a rockstar who wore a mask of believing in love while in reality he considered it nothing but a waste of time. It was a story of him falling in love with his fan Kripa, who makes him believe in love and changes his outlook towards life completely.
Angad Khaana was a sensation. Iqbal's voice and good looks started to create a fervour within few weeks of the launch and within time the show became an instant hit. It put Iqbal Khan on the map and then there was no looking back.
Angad Khanna went through many phases of his life of being a carefree casanova rockstar to a completely fallen in love boy to a falsely accused person serving in jail who changes his identity to bring the real culprits to surface. He then played the heartbroken lover who wants to take revenge to an adorable father on screen.
Iqbal portrayed every single shade of Angad to a pro and made him a believable flawed character who resides in every home. Despite of the extravaganza associated with Angad, there was something simple and endearing about him which Iqbal conveyed through his acting.
Till date Iqbal's name unconsciously starts a music in our minds .. Kaisa Ye Pyaar Haiii ..
~Raghu - Kahin To Hoga (2005)~
Because Iqbal Khan had turned into a craze and audiences had loved him Kaisa Ye Pyaar Hai, so he was roped in to play some extremely important cameos in already successfully running shows. First he entered Kahin to Hoga where his planned 3 day cameo was extended to 9 weeks due to Iqbal's spot on character portrayal and chemistry with the cast.
He was roped in to play a street goon who impersonates being Sujal, as the main protagonist Kashish is in search of her husband. Raghu is employed by Suawam, the villain of the show to enter as Sujal in Kashish's life so he can make his evil plans work.
Raghu was a street goon and Iqbal did a flawless job with his jargon and body language. He was brilliant in transition scenes where in one scenario he is in his own taper look while a moment later he transforms in this sober and educated Sujal.
He maintained the suspense and drama quotient of the show on a high with his performance and made his cameo a memorable one.
~Shaurya Nanda - Kavya Anjali (2006)~
This was another successful show in which Iqbal entered and made his presence felt. His character , Shaurya was KavyaAnjali where he enters as the cousin, Shaurya Nanda, of the main protagonist, Kavya, after his death. He was a sweet and humble but a successful businessman who falls in love with anjali. The show however ends with Shaurya's realisation that anjali was in love with Kavya'a look alike Soham and he gets them both married.
Shaurya Nanda was a simple heart felt genuine person played to the pro by Iqbal. Kavyanajali was an already successful show but Iqbal made his presence felt from the very first shot. He carried the simple styling with extra ordinary style. His charm was irresistible as an honest person, and to top that he had the beautiful HDDCS tune as his BG score. He made Shaurya a beautiful addition to an already successful show.
~Shiv Kapoor - Kara Apna Apna (2006)~
This was Iqbal's second show as a lead character and MY MY! What a splendid job did he do with it. If Angad Khanna was a sensation then Shiv Kapoor was triple sensation. His style, his dusky rugged look and his deep voice. My that was a frenzy. Unfortunately Iqbal left the show after 60 episodes but those 60 episodes remain a re watchable legendary timeline for everybody.
Shiv Kapoor was a flawed character where he makes use of a girl in order to get married to the love of his life, but slowly the guilt of manipulating and betraying the girl takes over him.
Iqbal gave a splendid performance with the dilemma and guilt of Shiv. His unconditioned love for Ipshita but at the same time genuine concern for Gauri made him a torn personality. Iqbal added spark to each and every shade of Shiv, and with this performance he became a cult in portrayal of flawed heroes on screen.
This serial has some beautiful dialogues, which Iqbal made memorable with his remarkable dialogue delivery.
jitna bharosa insaan ko khud pe nai hota wo utna bharosa karti hai mujh per ..
Shiv Kapoor is perhaps the only character where the lead was replaced in the initial 60 episodes and the show went on to complete more than 600 episodes with another actor, but when u say Shiv Kapoor - its ALWAYS Iqbal Khan. Thats how AWESOME he was with it.
Merey pyaar ki umer ho itni sanam .. terey naam se shuru .. terey naam pe khatam .. ❤️
~Flight Lt Abhimaniyu Adhikari - Choona hai Asmaan (2007)~
Amidst the glaring popularity of typical says - bahu sagas, Choona Hai Asmaan was a refreshing take on patriotism and love. Iqbal Khan yet again proved that he was an addition to television that couldn't be replaced. Abhimayu was a die hard patriot who falls in love with an extremely vivacious and strong headed girl. This serial was set against the back drop of IAF academy and was immensely popular for its new storyline.
~Shankar - Waaris (2009)~
This serial gave Iqbal another opportunity to portray an unconventional character. Shankar was the eldest son of an underworld mafia don and aspired to take over his father's realm but their lives take a turn when his younger brother, who never showed interest in his father's illegal business becomes more eligible for taking over the business.
This character was yet again portrayed with the required crass for a don yet a sensitive and loving husband and a loving brother, whose love gets tested when his brother is given preference over him.
~Rudra Singh - Sanjog se bani Sangani (2010 - 2011)~
Another of splendid performance by Iqbal. Rudra was born with a silver spoon in his mouth but always remain a neglected child. The girl he thought he loved more than anyone was enjoying keeping him in wait all this time, and then he makes a friend who shares his pain and slowly and gradually he falls in love with her.
Rudra is a beautiful journey of a boy who was neglected by his family and manipulated by the love of his life found comfort in a friend and then how slowly he manages to make a place for himself in the material world. He stands by the honour of his friend, whom he later marries and goes on to take over the world.
Iqbal portrayed the drunken state to the pro in this serial. His extreme dependence on alcohol and how it changed to a curse in his life. His sensitive portrayal of rich kids neglected by their parents was heart warming to see.
~Dr. Viren Roy - Yahan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli (2012)~
This was another cameo in an already successfully running show. Iqbal portrayed a doctor who had phycological problems. Yet again his character was a contribution to the story and had grey shades, which again were portrayed with extreme finesse.
~Nikhil - Teri meri Love Stories (2012)~
This was an episodic show where each episode was about one love story. Iqbal got paired with Divyanka Tripathi for this series. This was a story of nIkhil and naina and showcased their bitter sweet love story. Iqbal pairing with Divyanka looked gorgeous and they made the episode one of the memorable ones of the entire series.
~Anshuman Rathore - Tumhaari Paakhi (2013 - 2014)~
What do we say about this? Anshuman was a fairy tale price ❤️ and Tumhari Paakhi was a fairy tale that took place in the mountains of Shimla. ❤️
Anshuman was a shrewd businessman who brings home his first bride to whom he was married in childhood to maintain his commitment filling image in front of media. his initial plan remains of bringing Paakhi home and then maligning her in front of the society so she leaves and he is free to live on his life, but .. well he fails every time.
Iqbal Khan made Anshuman Rathore a loving endearing character.
A character that you hate yet you love. The one you love yet you hate.
His slow progression from hating the girl to developing admiration for her and then realising that his unconscious will never allow him to love and finally falling in love with her, and then hurting her beyond repair and then going through a heartfelt redemption for her was memorable.
Anshuman Rathore was mean, manipulative and yet lovable. Iqbal made Anshuman's dillema real, he made Tumhari Paakhi much more than a regular love story. He added reality to Anshuman's flaws that it became everybody's story as to whether is it right to manipulate someone for your benefit or not?
Not only was his chemistry with his lead actress appreciated but he made his role as a father to a 7 year old also memorable.
This show had some outstanding scenes which gave Iqbal complete room to show his calibre. His showdown scenes have been one of his most remarkable performances and there have been lines that he delivered like poetry in Anhsuman's character.
"Tumhaari tareef aisi hai k mujh raise ko tareef karna sikha de .. "
"Bin maange pyaar mil gaya na .. isliye qadr nai kar paaya .. "
"Anshuman Rathore apne mehnat aur qabliyat se uper aya hai .. tujh jaise ameeron ki thook chaat k nahi .. apne baap k sath gali gali ja k qaleen baiche hain maine .. aur apni auqaat appne suit k neche phen k ghoomta hn main ..
"ye tu rozi roti khainch layi shimla .. warna paidaish tu meri bhi raigistaan ki hai .. "
"Anshuman Rathore na tu behra hai .. na andha .. sirf apne waade ka paka hai"
and lastly .. his utmost realisation of the love he harboured ..
"chanda itna lamba safr isliye nai karta k wo aur rohini ik doori se bandhe hain .. chaand itna lamba safr isliye karta hai kyun k wo rohini se pyaar karta hai .."
Unfortunately due to differences with the creative team, Iqbal left this show and his character ended with his death. Although it was heartbreaking to see Antihuman die, but everybody respected him for taking a decision to leave rather than seeing his character butchered.
~Khatron k Khiladi- Season 6 (2015)~
Iqbal who had always stayed at bay from reality shows was offered Khatron k Khiladi. As his policy was clear about not doing these, he was convicted by the makers that this was an offbeat show, treated like a competition with no exploitation of the personal lives of the stars. Having listen all this he agreed and participated. He made it to the top two finalists , and although he couldn't win but he cherishes the friends he made there and the adventurous experience.
~Rizwaan Ahmed Khan- Pyar Ko Ho Jane Do (2015 - 2016)~
Can we just please keep talking on this one? Like keep talking and NEVER stop? Iqbal made Rizwaan come to life. That is what he did. Rizwaan was no longer a fiction because Iqbal gave him a beating heart.
The character Rizwaan Ahmed Khan was a risk in many factors, firstly it was a first time that a non indian muslim character was portrayed as a protagonist on Indian national television. Secondly, the story was on the topic of terrorism, which is very sensitive in today's world. and thirdly, him being a muslim and being so vocally against terrorists put an added responsibility on him with being staying true to his belief and that his character conveyed all that he believed on screen.
There were too many speculations, too many apprehensions, but Iqbal proved them all wrong. Today when the show is over, and when we look back in time, all we can do is applaud Iqbal for daring to take on something that actually had substance. That did not revolve around a meaningless story but added something to the society. He played a character who was more than a prop and a good looking addition to a lavish set.
Rizwaan's pain, dilemma, his excruciating guilt, his heart broken childhood, his loyalty towards his country, his unconditioned love for Preet, and the unbreakable bond with Hoodas. He portrayed all these emotions in one 5 second close up of his face. There have been countless moments when we looked at screen and went in a trance over this sincere portrayal of this character. His intimacy, his longing, his smile, his tear - every thing was poetry.
Iqbal was brilliant in Rizwaan not only with his performance but his choice of the character is what made all his fans respect him very much. He stepped out of the comfort zone of the entire storylines of the Television and dared to formulate a niche. He nurtured his character and that proved with the poetry he posted explaining his character on the day the episode ended.
