Actor Jaaved Jaaferi (also occasionally billed with a slightly different spelling, as Javed Jaffrey) did the preponderance of his work in productions from his native India; sporting a clean-cut, everyman appearance, Jaaferi quickly unveiled the ability to segue between dramatic and comic roles with an almost effortless dexterity. Born in Mumbai in 1963, he grew up as the son of noted Indian film actor Syed Jawaher and drifted into film in the mid-'80s, gradually ascending to supporting and lead billing. Key projects included the features Boom (2003), Salaam Namaste (2005), and Dhamaal (2007). Jaaferi enjoyed a particularly prolific series of collaborations with acclaimed Indian arthouse director Deepa Mehta, in whose efforts Fire (1996) and Earth (1998) he landed supporting roles. In 2008, Jaaferi took an unusual assignment by lending his voice to the Hindi-language animated feature Roadside Romeo.