Irrfan Khan, who has tiptoed into the western market ever since The Warrior, says he gets a real buzz from having an international dimension to his career. “It’s always an inner wish of every actor to reach out to maximum audiences,” he says, “I am lucky that the western world chooses me to play roles in their movies and television, whatever language it may be. It surely gives you a high to be an international actor with quality work.”
Irrfan’s latest international venture is In Treatment, the award-winning TV drama series about a psychotherapist starring Gabriel Byrne. Back home, however, he is looking forward to Right Yaaa Wrong in which he plays a cop with a human edge. “I had to unlearn acting and act as a real man behind dramatic situations in the life of this cop who has to go against his best friend to arrest him,” he explains, “I learnt how to go through heavy dramatic emotions with controlled calmness. Every scene was a question to me as an actor.”
Already shaping up to be the actor of the year, Irrfan follows this with Paan Singh Tomar, the complex story of the athlete who turned into one of India’s most famous rebels; and then he’s earmarked to play one of Priyanka Chopra’s husbands in Saat Khoon Maaf, although this has yet to be finalised. He is, however, excited by the prospect. “I am excited, though, sad to say, she has had six other husbands too!” he exclaims, “And she is going to kill me. She is a great actress, who also has looks and a glamorous personality.”
