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dogHe leapfrogged over the elite to become Hollywood’s go-to Indian actor. It’s only taken him twenty years, but Irrfan is living proof that every dog has its day

WRITTEN BY IAIN BALL PHOTOGRAPHED BY PRABUDDHA DASGUPTA STYLED BY ARJUN BHASIN

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MAY 2009 — 81 COVER STORY Fade A MUDDY FIELD AT MIDNIGHT, outside Dholpur in , swarming with hundreds of policemen and men with kerchiefs over their faces. At the edge of the field, towering lights and reflectors are blurred by dense, shimmering clouds of mosqui- toes. The constant background roar of car engines, PA systems and frenetic activity lends the scene the feeling of a rock concert soundcheck crossed with a riot. But here, the rioters are doing the crowd control, barking orders and waving lathis at the police to herd them through the mud. The cops are, in fact, extras, here for the climax of Tigmanshu Dhulia’s Paan Singh Tomar, the true story of the athlete- turned-bandit who went from running for his country to running from the law. The man playing him is , without question one of the country’s most in: talented, versatile and watchable actors. Through a series of memorable perfor- mances – The Warrior, Life In A Metro, The Namesake, , Haasil, A Mighty Heart and, of course, — Khan has steadily redrawn the limits of what Indian actors can achieve both at home and abroad, bridging the gaps between character actor and star, commercial cinema and art house, Hollywood and Bollywood. The first thing that strikes me about Khan is his stillness; he radiates a quiet in- ner calm, coupled with a military-erect posture and a sense of humour drier than a martini. He is wiry, slimmed-down, muscular, with none of the usual flabby trap- pings of the movie star: the ego, the entourage, the endless insecurities. He changes into costume – dull khaki fatigues – not in a vanity van but by the side of a car on a dirt track. This is a physically demanding role – he had to learn how to steeplechase to do it – and he’s limping with a strained ankle. The doctor has told him he needs complete rest, but he makes do instead with a thin hash joint. To Irrfan Khan, all that matters is the movie.

What happened to your ankle? and the director has used that shot in film. That was two-and-a-half years It’s an action movie, mostly, and I had the film. I hurt my ankle playing bad- ago. I can’t tolerate hash regularly. a fall because I didn’t rehearse the minton at the hotel. I start having strange fears, strange action. I was doing a scene in which That story was a total red herring. paranoias. And I don’t want to speak. the police are shooting at us, and I was [Laughs] If I was doing a scene, I would be like, supposed to get up and run to help my I’ve got a cheeky question. That was a “Why do I have to say this line? I’m just brother, who has been hit by a bullet. joint you were smoking earlier, wasn’t here…” There’s always a lot of adrenaline in an it? Is that supposed to help your acting Are you a big drinker? action scene, and I didn’t realize how or something? I have done my share of drinking. loose my trousers were. Suddenly my Tonight, there won’t be any scenes Drinking’s not a gentleman’s game for legs got locked and my foot got caught where I’m required to do anything me – you know, two pegs every evening. in some stones. You can see in the shot except run in shadows, so I thought I’d If I start drinking, I drink till I drop what time I leave the ground and what have a very small joint and talk to you dead. So generally, I don’t drink, be- time I land. Everyone was stunned and and chill and then go back. Generally, cause the next day I don’t like my body, sure that I had done something terrible I don’t smoke. If you give me one tola, it I hate myself. When I was younger I to myself. stays with me for three years. This was could keep drinking all night and it Yikes. given to me by a director, an aspiring wouldn’t hit me that hard. But nothing happened. It was a perfect director who wanted to work with me You’ve been in Dholpur for over three landing, actually. I just got a bruise, on a movie about drugs – an anti-drug weeks now, and there isn’t a hell of

82 — MAY 2009 HARD CRAFT A self-confessed PR ‘DRINKING IS NOT klutz, Khan has spent 20 years building his reputation purely on the A GENTLEMAN’S strength of his work GAME FOR ME. IF I START DRINKING, I DRINK UNTIL I DROP DEAD’

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MAY 2009 — 83 STRIP IT DOWN Despite the euphoria surrounding him after SHIRT, WAISTCOAT, Slumdog, Khan likes TROUSERS; ALL BY to keep the trappings PAUL SMITH. SHOES of stardom to a bare BY LOUIS VUITTON minimum

84 — MAY 2009 COVER STORY

a lot to do around here, is there? There He came to me after the Academy convince them that I’m a good actor, isn’t even a decent cinema. How do you Awards and said, “We must do a film they’ll give me a part and I’ll make a pass the time off the set? for you.” He was very generous in ac- good job of it. But it never used to work. Well, I can’t indulge because of the knowledging me, and I almost thought, Not that I didn’t try, like hiring an schedule. So generally, I go to the hotel “Is he joking?” It was genuine and I felt agent, doing a portfolio, or hiring a PR by 9.30pm, maybe take a walk for an nice about it, but I don’t have any idea and, you know, trying to present your- hour. Then I have scripts to read, calls or any story right now. self as something you’re not. But it just and SMSes to return. I have some films I kept seeing you on TV with Anil makes me embarrassed. The only thing I catch up on. Then I sit and dream… Kapoor during the PR for Slumdog , and that has worked for me is my work, so What do you dream about? Anil was loving it, hogging the micro- whenever a job has come along, I put When I was younger, I only used to phone, while you always seemed to be whatever I have into it and that has daydream about sex. Nothing else. I in the background. Was he shouldering given me another opportunity. started thinking about it when I was you out of the limelight? You were thinking of quitting acting seven or eight years old. I was always If he was shouldering me out, I would back in the Nineties, weren’t you? Why thinking about sex… have noticed. It was his enthusiasm. was that? Since you were seven? And when did You know, he’d never imagined what Yes, I was. I was bored of the kind of you finally have some? the film could do. At first he wasn’t acting I had to do on TV, where you I think I was 20. Maybe 21. Earlier, even familiar with ’s work, have to announce everything verbally I could have made love to any damn and then after one leap, he was on the instead of through your behaviour. chick, but now, unless some kind of Oscar stage. And you have to pump It’s verbose. So I was thinking I’ll do union happens, some kind of communi- directing because that involves you cation, sex has no meaning. much more than acting. But directing Is that better? I suppose it sounds ‘I DON’T KNOW doesn’t come naturally to me. I started better. WHY, BUT I’M A acting because I was fascinated by the Yeah, it’s much better. I used to feel way actors behaved. I used to imagine caged by it. I used to wonder, when this SHY GUY. MAYBE that they must be going through some desire finally goes, what will be left of mysterious experience, something out me? It was so overpowering I thought I BECAME AN of this world. I was fascinated by that I would be dead. I used to ask old and I just wanted to experience it. people what happens when the desire ACTOR TO DEAL Were you obsessed with films as a kid? goes away. And I have never got a very Well, no, but just because we were positive answer. I used to think, “Shit. WITH IT. IN REAL not allowed to see films in our house. When this desire goes, I’ll be nothing.” LIFE, I’M REALLY My mother’s family was supposed to Tell me, now all the hubbub has died be very refined, so they used to look down, what difference has Slumdog SHY IN FRONT down on films. Nobody imagined that actually made to you? someone in our family would turn out I think it’s going to take some time, but OF PEOPLE’ like me. it’s definitely going to make a differ- How did your parents react when you ence – not just for me but for the Indian your PR, so he had his reasons for do- told them you wanted to be an actor? film industry. Hollywood will be curi- ing it. Everybody has their own way to That was a difficult time. I was doing ous to have some more collaborations survive. plays in , and I made up my mind because it’s “in”. So, by default, you Why were you so much more reserved? in my second year to go to the National know our technicians and actors are go- There was no reason for me to be like School of Drama to learn the craft. But ing to get some benefit out of it. that, because I’m not such a big part my father died before I could tell him. Forbes magazine named you one of the of the film. If I was playing Dev Patel’s I have never experienced grief like top six Bollywood names with interna- role, maybe I would have been danc- that. But this other part of me was also tional clout. Have you now become the ing around. But for me, it was like, you saying, what will happen to my plan go-to South Asian character actor for know, somebody else is getting married now? I thought I wouldn’t be able to go serious Hollywood roles? and you’re the one doing all the danc- because I was the eldest and I’d have to I am very, very eager to break that, in ing. Also, temperamentally, I just can’t. take care of the family. For me, it was the sense that I won’t continue doing I don’t know why, but I’m a shy guy. a question of life and death, because these serious and brooding roles. I have Maybe I became an actor to deal with I couldn’t stand being in Jaipur for a broken that run in , but interna- that. I can be exuberant in some of my single day longer. I used to think, if I tionally, I am looking for an opportu- parts, but in real life, in front of people, don’t get admission to NSD this year, nity. Something which doesn’t repeat I’m really shy. I’ll go mad. Everything really used to what I’ve already done. So the whole self-promotion thing pull me down there. I just wanted to get Is Peter Rice [the head of Fox doesn’t come naturally? away. But slowly things eased off and Searchlight] talking to you about doing After drama school, I used to go my brother took over my father’s tyre another project – with you in the lead- and meet people for work, and I’d al- business. ing role? ways make a mess of it. I thought, I’ll What was wrong with Jaipur?

MAY 2009 — 85 HUNTER KILLER Khan’s childhood home in Jaipur was regularly surprised by the arrival of dead panthers – thanks to his father, a passionate hunter

86 — MAY 2009 COVER STORY

‘I’M NOT A TALKATIVE MAN, AND PEOPLE ARE THREATENED BY SILENCE. IT BRINGS OUT YOUR DEVILS’

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MAY 2009 — 87 T-SHIRT BY HUGO BOSS. SHIRT BY RAJESH PRATAP SINGH. JACKET, TROUSERS; BOTH BY LOUIS VUITTON

HAIR & MAKE-UP: VIJAY SHIKARE ASSISTANT STYLIST: ANTARA MOTIWALA PRODUCTION: GIZELLE CORDO, ALECKA MICKLEWRIGHT LOCATION: RAJ NIWAS PALACE, DHOLPUR

88 — MAY 2009 COVER STORY

It was repetitive. There was nothing So you wanted to learn from her think he has the potential to become new. Every day we used to go after the experience? a superstar. girls. Then we’d come back and stand But it was also this enthusiasm for the Would you like to be regarded as a at a friend’s shop in the main market. fact – which I couldn’t communicate character actor or a movie star? Then we used to go to some restaurant to her – that I have fucked! I think I I’m fortunate to be working in these and talk, pulling each other’s legs. wanted to share this enthusiasm for times, when the line between actors Then we’d spot a girl and go after her having grown up. Maybe that. I don’t and stars is getting more and more to see her house and get all excited, know why exactly. blurred. I want to bridge that gap, ide- you know. So? Did she enjoy it? ally, so that I can be both. Some stars What career did your mum want you to You know, it’s OK for men to say they are even trying to move to the other have? enjoy sex, but for Indian women it’s side and portray characters in their My mother wanted me to be a lecturer. taboo. own way. And that’s a very positive I fooled her when I went to NSD. I told You’re descended from a line of thing. Some stars are fascinated by her that once I did the course it would nawabs, aren’t you? Were you rich? themselves and don’t mind playing be considered a master’s degree – No. My father didn’t take even a pin themselves again and again. For me, which was true – and that I could from the family. He did everything on playing myself is boring, really boring. come back to Jaipur and become a his own. We were not rich; we were, you If you played yourself, what kind of teacher of dramatics. So she said OK. I know, middle-class kind of thing. My character would that be? was lying. father was a businessman, but he never A cynic, one who likes straight-faced So what does she now think of your took care of the business the way other humour. Or an intimidating guy. I’ve success? been given a lot of roles like that. I Well, it’s nice for her. She feels impor- have that kind of image because I’m tant when people bring her garlands. ‘SOME STARS not a very talkative man, and people But if she came to know I’m working ARE FASCINATED are threatened by silence. If you’re sit- with an injured ankle, she would have ting in a group and you’re not saying a fit. She’d start scolding me. She’s BY THEMSELVES anything, people start getting insecure. happy, but her desire, her greatest They start thinking, he’s a snob. Or, he’s desire would still be for me to go back AND DON’T thinking something negative about me. to Jaipur and do a normal job like a Silence brings out your devils. teacher. MIND PLAYING But really it’s because you’re shy? What? Even after you’ve been feted at Exactly. And also sometimes I just don’t the Academy Awards? THEMSELVES feel like talking. I enjoy the quiet. You have to meet her to believe it. She’s ALL THE TIME. Do you rely on your wife [screenwriter a dissatisfied soul. What she has lived, Sutapa Sikdar] a lot? I would detest in my own life. I don’t FOR ME, IT’S Work-wise? She is the best acting critic. want to repeat that. I love her, she’s the I think she’s got a better sense about dearest person in my life, but I don’t REALLY BORING’ acting than me. When I was at NSD, I want to become her. We used to have always used to ask her about my per- a lot of arguments. Earlier, I made a businessmen did. He was a passionate formance, and she used to give me very big effort to communicate with her. I guy and he did what he liked. He used diplomatic answers. That used to bug was able to discuss sex with her at one to like hunting, so that’s what he did. I me a lot. She only started appreciating point, when I was at NSD, after my fa- remember coming down in the morning my work after Haasil [2003]. ther died. and seeing the cat terrified, with its tail So, for about 19 years your wife never What did you talk about? all puffed up, and I knew that meant really liked your acting. I asked her, “Did you enjoy sex with my that my father had brought a panther She used to say, “Well, he’s got father?” home. The smell used to terrify the cat, something.” Uhh… you were able to ask her that? even though the panther was dead. When you look in the mirror, do you It was a straightforward thing for me. What’s your take on the big main- think, “There’s a good-looking guy”? I never had guilt about sex, never ever stream Bollywood stars? Yeah. Sometimes I do. Not in the mir- had guilt about sex. I find them very committed, very sin- ror, in some photographs. My wife hates How did she react? cere and very honest. is actors because she thinks they are far She said, “Why are you asking me such very earnest. All these stars – Hrithik, too engrossed in themselves. She used things?” , and to hate the fact that whenever I see a And? Why did you want to know? – are very, very serious mirror or a reflecting glass, I look at Because I was at an age when I was dis- about their work. And they’re clever. my face. She says, “Why do you have covering sex. I wanted to know whether They’re able to reinvent themselves. to look at yourself so many times?” it was possible to stay in a relationship Who, in the younger crop of actors, do But that’s how I am, I am going to look where the sex is not working. Or where you rate highly? at myself. I’m not going to feel guilty the sex is enjoyable, but you still have Imran Khan has something. He has a about it. Maybe that’s why I became an conflicts. very charismatic, very likable face. I actor.

MAY 2009 — 89