Bollywood filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri recently looked back at his first film ‘Chocolate’ and shared some heartfelt memories of working with the late Irrfan Khan.
While speaking to Mashable India, Vivek spoke about Irrfan’s acting style, his special way of performing, and even the lighter moments they had behind the scenes.
Vivek called Irrfan’s passing in 2020 a huge loss, not just for the film industry but for everyone who knew him. “I wrote a very philosophical piece when he passed away. I really miss him,” he said.
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He explained how Irrfan would never reveal in advance what he planned to do during a scene. “He rehearsed something, but when the camera rolled, he did something completely different,” Vivek recalled. This unpredictability, he said, was part of what made Irrfan so powerful.
Vivek also compared the working styles of Irrfan Khan and Anil Kapoor, who were both part of ‘Chocolate’.
The director didn’t just remember the serious side of Irrfan. He also spoke about his off-screen personality, which was very different from his on-screen intensity. After a day of filming, the cast and crew would often meet in Vivek’s room for drinks and conversations.
While most stayed up late chatting, Irrfan had a habit of dozing off anywhere he sat. Many times, his friends had to pick him up and take him back to his room. “Off set, he was a completely different person,” Vivek said.
Irrfan Khan, who passed away in April 2020 at the age of 53 after fighting a rare neuroendocrine tumour, is still remembered as one of the finest actors of his generation.