Mumbai

Filmmaker Tigmanshu Dhulia says the idea of making a biopic on legendary director K Asif was born out of conversations with late actor Irrfan Khan, and even after his passing, he feels driven to bring the project to life.

Speaking on Irrfan’s fourth death anniversary, Dhulia said it often feels as though the actor is still motivating him to complete the film. Irrfan died on April 29, 2020, at the age of 54 after battling a rare neuroendocrine tumour. The proposed biopic centres on Asif, best known for directing the iconic film Mughal-e-Azam.

Dhulia recalled that the two had long planned to collaborate on the project. “It all began with conversations with Irrfan. We wanted to make this film together, and even now, I feel he’s telling me to go ahead and make it,” he said during a special screening of A Story That Refused to Die, a documentary on their acclaimed film Paan Singh Tomar.

The 2012 biographical drama, which chronicled the life of an athlete-turned-dacoit, remains one of the most celebrated collaborations between Dhulia and Irrfan. The filmmaker reminisced about their association that began at the National School of Drama in the late 1980s and evolved into a creative partnership that shaped realistic storytelling in Hindi cinema.

Dhulia directed Irrfan in films like Haasil, Charas (2004), Paan Singh Tomar (2012), and Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster Returns. He said their process often revolved around identifying a core scene that defined the tone of the film.

The director also spoke about ambitious projects that never materialised, including Ghulami, a period drama set around 1857 featuring actors like Sunny Deol and Sameera Reddy. Despite elaborate preparations, the film was shelved shortly after shooting began due to financial constraints.

Another unfinished venture was The Killing of a Porn Filmmaker, for which Dhulia had already filmed portions and recorded music with Sneha Khanwalkar. Both projects, he said, were casualties of funding challenges despite significant effort.

Recalling earlier struggles, Dhulia said even Haasil faced setbacks, including not being submitted for National Film Awards due to disputes with producers—something he believes may have cost Irrfan a national honour for that performance. The actor eventually won the Best Actor award for Paan Singh Tomar.

Dhulia also shared anecdotes from their collaborations, including how Irrfan landed Maqbool after a screening of Haasil, and how he once refused to shave his beard during the shooting of Charas due to commitments to director Vishal Bhardwaj.

Despite occasional disagreements, Dhulia described their bond as deeply personal and enduring. “We argued often, but we always made up quickly. He was my closest friend in the film industry,” he said.

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Looking back at their early days, Dhulia remembered Irrfan as a reserved individual who grew immensely over the years. “He evolved constantly. Had he been here today, I can only imagine how much further he would have gone,” he added.