The film industry lost two of the finest Indian actors on Wednesday and Thursday, Irrfan Khan and Rishi Kapoor and the tribute for them continues to pour in.
Aadil Hussain who has worked with both of them spoke to BT about what they meant to him. He says, “I was very overwhelmed and sad because of Irrfan and Rishi Kapoor. I was so surprised yesterday at what I felt; I never knew I would feel that way about Irrfan as I wasn’t close to him. I met him five or six times during the promotion of the film and we spent one hilarious and adventurous night together, in which Sutapa, his wife, Ang Lee, Suraj (Sharma), him and me were walking in the middle of the night in Mumbai to find dinner. We spooke about acting mostly. It was the fact that he was an actor who wholesomely embodied a role, which sort of allowed the audience – which includes me – to enter into his inner world. This is a very courageous act, very few people, few actors can do that. And he had the ability, the courage, the wish and the intent and because of that, he managed to mesmerise. Not with his charm, but with his offering. It was almost like he was sacrificing himself in order to elevate the audiences’ consciousness. So, he was a very unique actor and I don’t think there are many in India, in the world, with such abilities. I also feel that his craft, his art had created inroads for him to journey within, which was a spiritual journey for him. I am extremely, extremely sorry and sad that he passed away.”
“In terms of Rishiji, I met him briefly during the shoot of ‘Rajma Chawal’. He was always smiling and cracking jokes. I grew up watching him in all these hit films – ‘Bobby’, ‘Khel Khel Mein’ and I used to sing Rishi’s songs and tried to dance like him and wear the clothes he used to wear. He was the romantic hero during my days when I was a teenager when my hormones were kicking. Today, when he left, I felt an amazing sense of gratitude for him for the films he did. He was a very skilled, honest and sincere actor, very passionate, which one can see in his work. So, his passing away marks a sad day for India.
‘I used to sing Rishi’s songs and tried to dance like him and wear the clothes he used to wear’
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