Tigmanshu Dhulia says Irrfan Khan was not his first choice for success: ‘He would have been like that…’

Actor-director Tigmanshu Dhulia made his directorial debut in Bollywood with the crime drama ‘Haasil’, starring Irrfan Khan. Irrfan Khan received the Filmfare Award for Best Actor in a Negative Role for his performance in the film. However, the director revealed that the actor was not the first choice for the role.

Tigmanshu Dhulia says Irrfan was not the first choice for Haasil

Talking about picking one of the lead characters, Dhulia told Mashable India, “It was just a coincidence that I was making my first film and Irrfan was a friend; that was destiny, there was no strategy behind it. First I did not go to Irrfan, first I went to Manoj Bajpayee. Satya was out and Manoj had become a star. Humlog yaar the, dost the (It was just a coincidence that I was making my first film and Irrfan was a friend; that was destiny, there was no strategy behind it. Initially, I didn’t go to Irrfan; I first approached Manoj Bajpayee. ‘Satya’ had already been released, and Manoj had become a star. We were friends)”.

“A film called Ghaath had released, Manoj was shooting for it. I went to meet Manoj and said that there is a picture like this, and he is a student leader, this is the kind of role he has. Manoj said I will not play a villain, he cannot play a hero, that was Jimmy Shergill’s role. Then I told it to Irrfan. I was selfish in that matter, I thought Manoj will come, he is a star, the producer will also come quickly (Manoj was shooting for Ghaath. I met him to discuss a project about a student leader. Manoj said he didn’t want to play the villain or the hero, as that role was for Jimmy Shergill. Then I talked to Irrfan. I thought Manoj would say yes since he was a star, and that the producer would quickly get involved)” he added.

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Tigmanshu Dhulia shares that one thing Irrfan couldn’t do as an actor

When asked about what fans might not know about Irrfan Khan, Tigmanshu Dhulia said he could play any role but couldn’t dance.

“Irrfan could do everything except dancing. The regular Hindi film heroes used to do dancing and singing things, leaving that aside Irrfan could do every role under the sun. An actor needs to be a little positive, an actor cannot be hopeless and Irrfan was full of passion. That’s why he was a very live actor, he used to do magic. When you watch his performance you feel that this is what happens in life. If this happens, your connection with the audience becomes perfect. Woh achievee karne liye actor ko andar se honi chahiye (Irrfan could do everything except dance. Unlike typical Hindi film heroes who dance and sing, he could take on any role. An actor needs to be positive and not pessimistic, and Irrfan was full of life. That’s why he was such a lively actor; he created magic. This connection with the audience becomes perfect, and to achieve that, an actor needs to have inner purity),” Dhulia said,

Irrfan Khan passed away at a Mumbai hospital on April 29, 2020, after a long battle with neuroendocrine tumor.

Dhulia also remembered his late friend, saying Irrfan’s death felt like losing a vital resource. He said, “Irrfan was a resource for me; he was a tool that made my work easier. That has come to an end. When he was around, my writing had a unique sharpness because I knew he could bring it to life. There are good actors available, and some are around us, but they aren’t my friends.”

Irrfan Khan was last seen in the 2020 film ‘Angrezi Medium’. He is survived by his wife, Sutapa Sikdar, and their two sons, Babil and Ayan.

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