More than visibility, it is viability which is very important, as far as Bollywood is concerned, Irrfan Khan tells Jyothi Venkatesh. We at CINEBUSTER wish the ailing actor a speedy recovery to spring back as an actor in Bollywood as well as Hollywood.
Irrfan Khan has had truly a year at movies, with two diverse films Hindi Medium and Kareeb Kareeb Singgle doing exceptionally well at the box office and his next Hollywood film- Puzzle having its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival Bollywood, though unfortunately, the actor has shocked his fans as well as the film industry by announcing that he is suffering from what he describes as a “rare disease”.
With growing popularity worldwide, Irrfan is a regular in Hollywood films too having shared screen space with Tom Hanks in the film Inferno in a pivotal role. Puzzle, Irrfan’s next Hollywood venture with Marc Turtletaub whose previous film Little Miss Sundhine won the coveted Academy Award for Best Film is slated for release across the world. Before its global release, the 2018 Sundance Film Festival has announced their selected feature films and amongst the 110 independent films from around the globe, Puzzle also had its world premiere at Sundance Film Festival, Bollywood.
Irrfan Khan has always made us proud of being a part of content-driven world cinema as he continues to keep adding feathers to his cap. It is a great honour as Irrfan continues to keep representing India globally.
Speaking about this Irrfan said, “I am excited about the world premiere. The film Puzzle is very close to my heart. When I read the script I knew there is something really unusual and beautiful about the story and the characters. It is a story of a woman named Agnes, taken for granted as a suburban mother, who discovers a passion for solving jigsaw puzzles which unexpectedly draws her into a new world – where her life unfolds in ways she could never have imagined. I am playing her new world. I have been grateful for the amazing opportunities that have come my way, but I really wanted to break away from the studio films for a bit and do something more intimate. I am glad that I took this chance. “
Written by Oren Moverman, ‘Puzzle’ features Irrfan Khan, Kelly Macdonald, David Denman, Bubba Weiler, Austin Abrams, Liv Hewson Agnes in lead roles.
Irrfan was a part of the 3 D film The Amazing Spider-man of Sony Pictures. After unveiling the never before seen trailer of The Amazing Spider-man, the Paan Singh Tomar hero had interacted with the media and shared his experience of working in the movie.“I am very glad to have been a part of America’s biggest fantasy film. It was a great experience working with Marc Webb and my other co-stars. To work with such a unit and production team is a dream come true.” The star could not stop his praises for the new Spider-man. Talking about Andrew, Irrfan says, “Andrew is one rare actor, a very promising actor. I don’t think any other spider-man was better than him. He is best suited for this role.”
Though Irrfan’s role in the film was very minimal, he plays a pivotal role and for him it doesn’t matter how long his role will be rather he is keen on how moving those few minutes of his character will be. “I don’t look at how big is my role; I look at the character and what it represents to the world.”The character of Dr Ratha that Irrfan played in the movie was vital as the character played boss to the main villain in the film – Dr Curt Connors- and was the one who is pushing the transformation of Curt into The Lizard.
So is Irrfan a spider-man fan too? “Yes, definitely. I used to read comic books and I had been a fan of spider-man. But it was not just spider-man I was a fan of as I liked all the characters in it. If given a chance to be a superhero what change will Irrfan bring about for the betterment of mankind? “If given a chance to be a superhero I would like to wipe out the ignorance of the human beings.”
ACTING IS LIKE CYCLING
The film Knock Out flopped but Irrfan had no regrets that he agreed to act in the film helmed by Mani Shankar.” I did not see Phone Booth before I accepted the offer to act in Knock Out , which also had a similar premise. I did not know the issue about money being flown out of the country”, Irrfan had quipped, as a matter of fact frankly, as we settled down for this chat in a corner at Hotel Novotel where I had met him in a party hosted by Sudhir Mishra for celebrating the completion of his film Yeh Saali Zindagi.
Irrfan added. “It is absolutely immaterial on which film was Knock Out based, because I feel that what it set out to tell was more important. What I mean is that the premise of the film Knock Out was important. I had agreed to act in Knock Out because the film had stars like Sanjay Dutt and Kangana Ranawat, it would be completed on time and also marketed well unlike the art house films”.
Irrfan says that though Mani Shankar wanted him to play his character in a different way by feeling humiliated to the core, he did not agree to play a weakling, because he felt that he could not possibly entertain if he played a character like that, especially if he had to take a decision to change the nation. The inherent humor in my character would have died if I had become mean.”
Irrfan had no qualms to admit that in the first place it was Sanjay Dutt who had suggested his name to Mani Shankar for his role in Knock Out. “Sanjay Dutt comes across as a very nice guy. In fact, I fell in love with him when is saw him in Parineeta”.
Irrfan is of the opinion that the fact that he has been able to work in quite a few international projects has no relevance whatsoever to the kind of films that he is bagging here in India. “The Indian film industry has absolutely no lena dena at all with the international market that I have. You see Shah Rukh Khan is a top star as far as Bollywood is concerned but he would have to struggle hard to get a Tamil film offer. More than visibility, it is viability which is of paramount importance, as far as Bollywood is concerned”.
Irrfan agrees that of late he has become far too choosy and does not actually take up each and every role that he is offered. “I was offered the role that Arshad did in Ishqia but I could not do it. Similarly I was also offered the role which Subrat Dutta did in Madholal Keep Walking, though I received the script, because I was too tied up with some international projects”
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Irrfan Khan, a la Anil Kapoor in the international series 24, has also worked in the international series In Treatment in its third season, with Gabriel Burn and abra Wenger ( of Usual Suspects fame)
Sudhir Mishra, Irrfan confesses, changed his style as a director with Yeh Saali Zindagi. “I do not feel insecure as an actor, though I have to wait for the right offer, because I get several offers as an actor. I should confess that earlier I did not bother to play with the craft and only played with the role. Now I want to play credibly with entertainment too, because it is very important today. I feel that if the role does not engage you, even if it is real, it would not be able to leave an impact in the minds of the audiences.”
As far as Irrfan Khan is concerned, acting is like cycling and you cannot focus till you start doing it. “There is such stiff competition abroad that you cannot even imagine. Today thanks to my stint in films abroad with Angelina Jolie, at least I do not have to go and introduce myself or ask them for work if I come across say Ang Lee or for that matter the maker of Gladiators”.
Irrfan Khan is one actor who has his bag full of International projects. Without shouting from the roof tops he even managed to get Hollywood films like The Mighty Heart, The Namesake and The Warrior.
1967 born Irrfan who had started acting in 1990 at the young age of just 23 with television is still tied to that medium. His latest film to release is Blackmail with Arunoday Singh, Kirti Kulhari, Divya Dutta etc as his co-actors. Directed by Tanveer Khan, this is an edge of the seat thriller with a difference.
In this conversation with the author from time to time, Irrfan Khan talks about himself and his roles in different films.
Excerpts:
Why did you agree to be a part of a female-oriented film like Hiss with Mallika Sherawat?
You cannot always expect that you will be offered a hero oriented role. I could not say no to Jennifer Lynch when she approached me with the offer for the film which in any case was produced by Mallika Shwerawat herself. The film Hiss may not have clicked in a big way but I was quite excited to play the role of a guy who has his own personal crisis in the film which set out to talk about respect to animals, life and death.
You are very choosy as an actor. How do you pick your films?
As an actor, I make it a point to say yes to a role if I am able to connect with the film when I hear or read the script. Sometimes, I may select a film by keeping in mind where it will position me in the market even though I may not be very excited by the scope that the roles offer me as an actor.
Do you agree that you have this image of being an intense and serious actor?
I beg to disagree with those who want to bracket me as a serious and intense actor just because I had played serious roles in Vishal Bharadwaj’s Maqbool and Tigmanshu Dhulia’s Haasil. I refused to let myself be typecast even when I got big offers from big filmmakers to do intense roles after Maqbool and Haasil because I have had the belief that it is always a cardinal sin for an actor to cling to his image to sell his craft.
You portrayed a comic role in Anurag Basu’s film Metro. How tough was it?
When Anurag Basu told me about my character in Metro, the character instantly hooked me. I enjoyed playing the comedy character in the film though it was not for the first time that I played a comedy role. Earlier I had played comedy roles in episodic Best Sellers series on Star.
You have done quite a few International films, including Life of Pie, Jurassic World, Warrior, Slumdog Millionaire and The Namesake. What perception do people have about Indian Cinema abroad?
I am glad I have been a part of films like Colin Treverro’s Jurrasic World, Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire, Ang Lee’s Life of Pie, Mira Nair’s Namesake as well as Warrior. I feel that if our Indian films cross our shores and are watched by different people in different countries, it will greatly benefit our cinema.
Would you say that The Namesake was the turning point in your career as an actor?
I have had various turning points as far as my career is concerned. With due respect to Mira Nair, The Namesake was just one of them.
Has Mira Nair penciled you in to play any key role in her adaptation of Gregory Roberts’s Shantaram?
After working in ‘The Namesake’, I am very keen on being a part of Mira’s Shantaram though Mira Nair has still not finalized the star cast, besides Amitabh Bachchan, who is supposed to play an underworld Don, and Johny Depp, who is supposed to play the title role of Shantaram.
How happy are you as far as your career is concerned?
My life has pushed me in the right direction. Though I’d not mind conceding that I am happy with the way my career has progressed, I am looking to reach the time when I am in a situation where I can have the options to work in say just two or three films every year and live life king-size.
Are you glad that people have started writing subjects keeping you in their minds for the role?
I do not think I have still reached a stage where people write a role keeping me in mind. I hope I do not reach that stage because I am scared that I would be in a cage if people start writing roles keeping me in mind. I am afraid that in that case, I would only end up playing myself in film after film. Instead, I want to explore newer avenues and take up bigger challenges as an actor.
Do you have plans to take up direction?
I have no plans to take up direction because I know I cannot direct for nuts. I love music but I do not have the ear to pick up good music. Similarly, I cannot write for nuts. I am happy as an actor.
You are a part of the international film No Bed of Roses!
Yes. I am part of an international film called No Bed of Roses, written and directed by Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, one of the noteworthy filmmakers from Bangladesh. The bilingual (Bengali and English language) film, titled Doob in Bengali, is produced by Kolkata’s Eskay Movies and Bangladesh’s Jazz Multimedia. My own production company IK is co-producing the film. It is my second venture as a producer after Ishaan Nair’s Kaash. Besides me, the main cast includes Bangladeshi actress Nusrat Imroz Tisha who starred in Farooki’s, Third Person Singular Number (Bangladesh’s entry to the 2011 Oscars) and Television (Bangladesh’s entry to the 2014 Oscars), Parno Mitra (X: Past Is Present) and Rokeya Prachy.
What made you say yes to the offer?
When I saw his first film Ant Story, it immediately got me interested. I was Impressed with his approach, style, and the way he unravels the story. His selection of casts and the way they behave are something that touched me immensely. His works carry a strong humane angle, which is why his characters are multi layered. I am eagerly looking forward to collaborate and explore with him in the film No Bed of Roses. I hope this will be a good addition to the changing landscape of world cinema”
You are a serious artiste. How serious are you in real life?
I am not at all serious and intense in real life. The only thing I take seriously is my work. 80 percent of my life is spent at work. That is why I try to indulge myself at work also. So I review life too in lighter perception. There is nothing that we can really change. The only thing that we can do is bring some improvement. I had recently read somewhere that we should take light things seriously and serious issues lightly for better balance. I think that is really apt. I would rather put my best effort and then enjoy my work.
You are perceived as a serious actor!
I don’t want my work also to be labeled as serious alone. I want to experiment with everything. People form opinions so fast. Media conforms these opinions further and before you know you are slotted. In fact if there are fifteen people in a room and one is quiet, then the rest of the fourteen will form opinion about that one person so very fast. Nobody likes silence and suspect it. The same applies to serious artistes. I don’t want my work to be called arty or call myself an artiste because I only act.
Do you apply some particular method to your acting?
I think there should be a method and particular technique needs to be applied to each and every character. This is a craft that can be learnt but we also need to have the basic inner quality to understand and absorb it.
Did you ever feel the need to train for some any particular character?
Yes, many times one needs to work on the looks and body language of a character. Like in The Namesake, I played a Bengali who is staying abroad. His speaking ascent is Bengali and that was difficult. So I had to do workshops to learn the ascent. At times I also read books to understand some character.
Along with Hindi films you are also working on many international projects. Did you manage to get them through PR activity?
No, I do not believe in all this. I indulge in publicity only when my film is ready for release and it can benefit from my interaction with press. In fact when the offer for Mighty Heart came, I was in Hyderabad. It had just happened. I accepted it because it has a very strong story.
You also acted in The Namesake. How was the experience?
Experience was wonderful. In The Namesake my character was very challenging because I had to be nondescript character and that is not what I am known for in films. But I enjoyed the work. As for Angela Jolie, she is an extremely nice person. Working with the team is a unique experience. They make you feel extraordinary.
What kind of company do you prefer in real life?
In real life I prefer to keep light company, somebody who can make me laugh. My friends are light hearted and very interesting. We can laugh at silliest of reasons. Life has taught me so much. I have learnt to respect the lighter side of it. My work has worked as a healing agent for me. So I have learnt to enjoy and love my work.
On what basis do you pick films?
First I look at the approach of the director and his understanding of his subject. I know that I am nobody. So I just need to play the role as per the script and direction.
IRRFAN KHAN’S HEALTH UPDATE:
Neuro Endocrine Tumour can be removed surgically but conditions apply, reveal doctors. After several speculations, Irrfan Khan took to Twitter recently to update his fans and media about his health condition. The 51-year-old actor rubbished all rumors about his rare disease having anything to do with the brain and revealed that he has been diagnosed with Neuroendocrine Tumour. The actor also shared that he will be away from the country taking treatment for the same and has also promised to come back with further update about his disease in 10 days’ time.
His fans and friends are naturally in a state of shock. It is not an easy disease to overcome, but it is definitely curable. Dr. Saumitra Rawat, HOD, Surgical Gastroenterology & Liver Transplant, Sri Ganga Ram Hospital, spoke to ANI about the nature of Neuroendocrine Tumour and medication and said, “Neuro Endocrine Tumour is an abnormal growth of Neuroendo cells which are present in bodies. When there is an abnormal growth, then it forms a tumor – normally seen in intestine, pancreas, lung, thyroid and other parts of the body”.
He also said that such tumors can be taken out surgically depending on the location of the tumor, its size, and what is its mitotic index. “Depending on where the tumor is localized, you can take it out surgically and the chances of cure are very high”, Dr Rawat explained. Once that is done, proper care and regular check-ups are needed to ensure there are no recurring tumors.
Vinit Suri, Senior Consultant, Neurology, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals also confirmed that “early detection can lead to cure by excising the tumor or giving appropriate therapy”. But it is not known to fans as yet which stage of the condition Irrfan Khan is suffering. Let’s hope that when the actor gives us the next health update, he only has good news for us.
On the work front, the actor’s next film Black Mail is ready for release and according to director Abhinay Deo, will hit screens on time since Irrfan wants it that way. There are speculations that his film with Deepika Padukone based on mafia queen Sapna didi has been shelved. We also hear that Irrfan has asked his Hollywood agent not to take up any projects for now.
