<p>He’s one of the most versatile actors in Bollywood and has also made a mark with his choice of movies in Hollywood. A cut above the rest, actor Irrfan Khan was recently in the city for the promotion of his upcoming film ‘Madaari’. Directed by Nishikant Kamat, the movie also stars Vishesh Bansal, Jimmy Shergill, Tushar Dalvi and Nitesh Pandey. In a chat with Anila Kurian, Irrfan talks about the movie, his role and the changes he’s observed in Bollywood.<br /><br />Tell us about your role in ‘Madaari’. <br /><br />I’m playing the role of an ordinary man who has lost something precious to him. It didn’t require much research as I am also an ordinary person. In the course of the story, he discovers extraordinary things, especially the fact that every human being can turn into a hero. It also talks about our system and the way certain things are dealt with. <br /><br />You’re also sporting different looks in the movie... <br /><br />All the looks showcase the different phases my character goes through. That was actually one of the difficult parts. <br /><br />Which one of them was your favourite look?<br /><br />There’s a part in the trailer where my character picks the phone and says something. This was after he discovered his inspiration. He makes a choice at that moment and the real man comes out after that. <br /><br />Any fun moments on the set?<br /><br />Oh no! A Nishikant Kamat film is never about fun. Everyone is very serious and it’s all about the work. <br /><br />You are a versatile actor who has played various roles. Any particular kind you’d like to explore?<br /><br />I’d like to try my hand at a romantic and light comedy based role. I don’t want to do it like the others, but in my own way, in my own style. <br /><br />How do you balance your Bollywood and Hollywood projects?<br /><br />Just like I handle two Bollywood movies at a time. I just need to make time for both. <br /><br />Any good qualities from both the industries that you think can be adopted? <br /><br />From Hollywood, we can look at the way they work on their stories. The subject and information are highly credible there; it’s not fictitious. And from Bollywood, they could adopt our openness towards filmmaking. It’s not compartmentalised. <br /><br />What do you think have been some of the major changes since your entry in the industry?<br /><br />We’ve definitely started making films which are a combination of parallel and commercial cinema. As years go by, the division we had earlier is blurring.<br /><br />If you could change one thing from your past, what would it be? <br /><br />To be less anxious, especially when I was a teenager. If given a chance to go back, I’d like to be more chilled out during certain situations. <br /><br />A future invention you’re looking forward to.<br /><br />Flying machines. But I think we have a tendency to mess up everything and we might just mess this one up as well. But while it lasts, it’ll be fun. <br /><br />Tell us a random thing about yourself that we don’t know. <br /><br />If there’s something that the rest of the world doesn’t know about, it should be left like that. There’s no fun in it otherwise. <br /><br />What do you do when you’re not working?<br /><br />I’m always working. I don’t like taking breaks; I enjoy being a workaholic.<br /><br /></p>
<p>He’s one of the most versatile actors in Bollywood and has also made a mark with his choice of movies in Hollywood. A cut above the rest, actor Irrfan Khan was recently in the city for the promotion of his upcoming film ‘Madaari’. Directed by Nishikant Kamat, the movie also stars Vishesh Bansal, Jimmy Shergill, Tushar Dalvi and Nitesh Pandey. In a chat with Anila Kurian, Irrfan talks about the movie, his role and the changes he’s observed in Bollywood.<br /><br />Tell us about your role in ‘Madaari’. <br /><br />I’m playing the role of an ordinary man who has lost something precious to him. It didn’t require much research as I am also an ordinary person. In the course of the story, he discovers extraordinary things, especially the fact that every human being can turn into a hero. It also talks about our system and the way certain things are dealt with. <br /><br />You’re also sporting different looks in the movie... <br /><br />All the looks showcase the different phases my character goes through. That was actually one of the difficult parts. <br /><br />Which one of them was your favourite look?<br /><br />There’s a part in the trailer where my character picks the phone and says something. This was after he discovered his inspiration. He makes a choice at that moment and the real man comes out after that. <br /><br />Any fun moments on the set?<br /><br />Oh no! A Nishikant Kamat film is never about fun. Everyone is very serious and it’s all about the work. <br /><br />You are a versatile actor who has played various roles. Any particular kind you’d like to explore?<br /><br />I’d like to try my hand at a romantic and light comedy based role. I don’t want to do it like the others, but in my own way, in my own style. <br /><br />How do you balance your Bollywood and Hollywood projects?<br /><br />Just like I handle two Bollywood movies at a time. I just need to make time for both. <br /><br />Any good qualities from both the industries that you think can be adopted? <br /><br />From Hollywood, we can look at the way they work on their stories. The subject and information are highly credible there; it’s not fictitious. And from Bollywood, they could adopt our openness towards filmmaking. It’s not compartmentalised. <br /><br />What do you think have been some of the major changes since your entry in the industry?<br /><br />We’ve definitely started making films which are a combination of parallel and commercial cinema. As years go by, the division we had earlier is blurring.<br /><br />If you could change one thing from your past, what would it be? <br /><br />To be less anxious, especially when I was a teenager. If given a chance to go back, I’d like to be more chilled out during certain situations. <br /><br />A future invention you’re looking forward to.<br /><br />Flying machines. But I think we have a tendency to mess up everything and we might just mess this one up as well. But while it lasts, it’ll be fun. <br /><br />Tell us a random thing about yourself that we don’t know. <br /><br />If there’s something that the rest of the world doesn’t know about, it should be left like that. There’s no fun in it otherwise. <br /><br />What do you do when you’re not working?<br /><br />I’m always working. I don’t like taking breaks; I enjoy being a workaholic.<br /><br /></p>