Ahead of the release of his film Hindi Medium, Irrfan Khan talks about the efforts he’s had to put in to tell Bollywood filmmakers that he can carry a film on his own. Excerpts from an interview:
Do you consciously sign a different kind of film each time?
I’ve been waiting for a comedy film for the longest time. There were scripts but they were not interesting enough and I always try to redefine entertainment. Hindi Medium was a script where everything fell in place — from the subject to the note of the comedy. I liked how the director Saket Chaudhary dealt with the subject of school admissions. It’s not just the comedy but also the bits about education that parents and kids will enjoy and relate to.
What is your role in the film?
I play Raj Batra, a boutique owner who sells duplicate designer labels in Delhi and whose father owns a tiny shop. Raj falls in love with a girl from an affluent background and marries her. Despite his father’s reservations, he goes on to build a big boutique. But, he is still a Chandni Chowk guy who has grown up in the narrow streets; something the girl is not comfortable with. Their lives turn upside down when school admissions of their daughter come up. Certain urban schools have the mandatory rule of students staying in the school’s vicinity, which means moving houses for the couple. What happens next is the plot.
How was it working with Saba Qamar?
We had a great time working together, as is evident from the trailer. Saba is fantastic at her craft. We needed a girl who was ready to play a mother in the film, which not many actresses in the industry, even those in their 40s, are willing to. It was becoming difficult for us to cast someone opposite me, and we needed an actress, not just a pretty face. So casting became tricky and I sometimes do take interest in the process because I have to spend time and act with that person for a few months; I need to have a comfort level. Saket, Dinesh Vijan and I saw a video of Saba and loved it. We contacted her and roped her in for the film.
Irrfan Khan
Was it difficult to shoot with the young kid?
The young girl was so good that I'm sure she was thinking how in spite of being grown-ups we needed retakes. We used to keep interacting with her on the sets. She is too intelligent and mature for her age.
The director of the film Saket Chaudhary is an expert at handling subjects on couples and their lives…
I think he developed the script by taking all the flavours from the life he has led and shows in his films. He understands the messiness of the couple but Hindi Medium is not only about a messy couple. It has more to do with a girl who holds a grudge that her husband can't speak English.
How does it feel to be accepted as a commercially-viable actor in Bollywood?
It has been a long journey. It was my effort since Haasil to signal to producers and directors that I can carry a film on my own and entertain the audiences. It took time because I didn’t adhere to formula. There is no one else to blame as it was my own process. Had my formula worked, I would’ve got this chance much earlier. I also wanted it to happen organically without pushing to find my space and position.
All set to work with Deepika Padukone in Vishal Bharadwaj's film?
I think the makers are still in talks with her and I don’t know at what stage they are right now. I have said yes to the film but I am not sure about Deepika being a part of it. I am really excited and desperate to work with her again. If that happens, it will be great. I am really looking forward to this film. She is one of the most talented actresses I have ever worked with.
What are your other projects this year?
I am doing Raita (working title) with Kriti Kulhari. This is my first association with T-series and they are happy to bank on me. I really like the way they are executing the film. They are stepping out of their comfort zone. If we see things four years back, no one would have imagined that they would produce such a film. I have finished the travelogue with Tanuja Chandra, too. Also, people must wait for my Bangladeshi film Doob: No Bed of Roses, which is stuck since its release has been banned in Bangladesh. My other interesting film Song of the Scorpions is in post-production stages and releases this year.
