Irrfan Khan. Pictures by Rashbehari Das

“Ab isko bandh karna padega,” smiles Irrfan Khan, referring to his phone, which is continuously buzzing from the time news broke that Paan Singh Tomar has got him a National Award (Best Actor). As he walks into Abhishek Dutta’s 10A Shakespeare Sarani studio (on the ground floor of Shagun Wedding Mall) on Monday afternoon, Irrfan is on a call. Then another. And, then another. But t2 did manage to steal a few moments with the gentleman-actor, in town for the shoot of the period drama Gunday, before he flew off to Mumbai.

We can see that your phone hasn’t stopped ringing. When did you get to know about your National Award win?

I got to know an hour back… 45 minutes. I have done about six-seven interviews in an hour!

You must be very satisfied?

Yeah… the subject was close to our hearts. There was a kind of angst in that subject. We connected to that. And that’s very important. The thing which, the film was talking about was not just the film. It’s trying to say something very, very important to the whole nation. That’s why it is so satisfactory.

I knew that if I was nominated, I would definitely win the award. There was something in it… it is difficult to shake that performance or story (away).

With Tigmanshu (Dhulia) I have had a long friendship… big partnership. We met at the National School of Drama more than 20 years ago and my journey as an actor would not have been that enjoyable if he wasn’t there in my life. I wanted him to come to Bombay when I shifted there. I used to bug him all the time saying, “Come yaar!” But he had his own mind. Once he had a project with Shekhar Kapur (casting director of Bandit Queen), then did he come to Bombay. I used to expect that when he would make a film (he would cast me)… but I was doing television and he was trying to make films. He would say, “Tum log TV ke actors ho… I don’t want to cast you!” But we were friends. We used to spend time with each other.

What is it that you love about working with Tigmanshu?

It is on many levels. You cannot really decipher what makes a chemistry happen… temperament. Sometimes there are things in you and there are things you look up to in somebody. Your sensibility… sense of humour… the way you deal with life. I think somewhere the common thing is that for both of us, work is something that makes us feel worthy. In everything else, after a point, we lose interest. Work is the only thing that keeps us going.

Are you then most comfortable working with him?

I am most comfortable.

2013 has begun on a great note with Life of Pi winning at the Oscars and now Paan Singh Tomar…

I think I have been seen this change from, I think, 2010 onwards. Something is there in the air… something very interesting is happening, which was manifested in 2012 and 2013. Last year there were so many films, which were commercial as well as had something to say… I won’t say it was a fluke. I think that’s where the industry is going now. And it will keep happening. Every year you will have a few interesting films. The numbers will keep increasing.

The general consensus now is that if it is an Irrfan Khan film, you don’t see anybody else. You overshadow everybody else…

That’s not a nice thing! You are not there to overshadow anybody. You are there to communicate the story and engage the audience. If the other actor is not engaging (enough), then it is a different thing. It is the story that should engage you. You are part of it. Sometimes actors, when they try to get noticed, they somehow create a disharmony in the rhythm of the story. I have played that game and it is not wholly enjoyable. The interesting thing is to understand what the story is demanding from you and how to make it more engaging for the audience. I have been a very generous actor in that sense. I give a lot of space to the other actors and there is no intention to overshadow anybody. It is trying to create an atmosphere that the audience is going to remember for a long time.

But when you are on screen we cannot take our eyes off you!

Yeh toh achchhi baat hai! (Smiles)

How is Gunday coming along?

I am not sure… you never know when you are shooting. I am enjoying the shoot. Once that is done… the film is made on the editing table as well.

Irrfan Khan tries on an Abhishek Dutta linen jacket with leather work

Have you been around town?

I am looking for a guide! I was left cold in Calcutta. Whatever I have seen is on my way from the hotel (Taj Bengal) to the location.

What about Calcutta food? Have you tasted any?

I have had maachher paturi from Bhojohori Manna.

Does it get made at home (wife Sutapa is half-Bengali)?

Nahin! She is only Bengali when she wants to bully me! I don’t think she is very fond of Bengali culture, except for Rabindrasangeet. There is a very interesting thing about Bengali girls. They have a love-and -hate relationship with their culture. They want to go beyond the culture as well as stick to their roots. Durga Puja is something else. Rabindrasangeet is something else. I can understand a little Bengali. So you can abuse, I won’t understand!

Do you have a favourite Rabindrasangeet?

I have heard very little. I like Bangladeshi singer Arnob. I love him! I was preparing for a Bengali role in In Treatment [HBO drama] … I was trying to find some music and suddenly I stumbled upon him. He is outstanding.

Do you want to do a Bengali film?

Yeah sure. Bengali films are my teacher. Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak… no film has crossed past that experience, especially Ritwik Ghatak.

Which is your favourite Ritwik Ghatak film?

Where she says “Aami jeetey (banchtey) chai”. Meghe Dhaka Tara. Uff! What a story! I love that!

Would you like to work in a remake of Meghe Dhaka Tara?

Nobody can make that film! It is not a story. It is his heart,which he has poured on the celluloid. Who’s going to do that?

And which Satyajit Ray film do you like?

The (Apu) Trilogy. And all his films. I won’t call it a favourite. Even with Ritwik Ghatak. Every film is a masterpiece. I also like Nayak... where they never see each other (again).

Paan Singh Tomar was a biopic. Anyone else fascinates you?

Dhyan Chand. I love what he did. There are so many stories in India. There were some soldiers who fought for India in the China War. They have yet not been rewarded. There were 150-170 of them and they fought thousands of Chinese. Only a few of them are left. Nobody talks about them. I would love to make a film on them.

Saionee Chakraborty

Which is your favourite Irrfan Khan film? Tellt2@abp.in