‘This year, I chose the stories I really wanted’

Irrfan Khan is a very busy man this year — he has a number of releases, plus two international projects, and a few other films going on the floors. Is this the best phase of his career? He says, “I just know one thing: this is the year when most of the stories I chose were the ones I really wanted to do.”

With his ever-growing stature, Irrfan says that the only thing that has changed in his work strategy is that “I am part of stories I really believe in”. Earlier, he would take a role because of its substance and the director, even if the story didn’t appeal to him that much.

Now that he’s part of big commercial films in Bollywood and Hollywood, it would be interesting to know how he decides on projects. Irrfan says, “It’s based on everything. You also look at it from an angle [of] whether the audience will enjoy it, because there’s a lot of money involved. Also, if it’s not something that’s just fluffy — it’s not time-pass, it should have layers.”

With stellar roles in Hollywood films such as Jurassic World (2015) and Inferno (2016), it’s natural to assume that Irrfan is something of a pioneer for younger Indian actors who’re making their way to the West. “It’s not just me, [I am] one of the actors, sure,” he says. “Hollywood has opened up for the Indian market… Also, after the emergence of new online streaming platforms, this is the greatest opportunity for Indian talent to make their mark in the West, especially directors, if they can come up with a good series.”

Asked about Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone’s work in the West, Irrfan says, “I wish they play a long innings.”

This is the greatest opportunity for Indian talent to make their mark in the West, especially directors IRRFAN KHAN, ACTOR