Tigmanshu’s heartfelt remembrance: Irrfan was my only true friend in Bollywood

At the Koshala Lit Festival held in Lucknow recently, filmmaker Tigmanshu Dhulia reflected on his journey from the theatre to cinema. Known for films such as Gangs of Wasseypur, Paan Singh Tomar and Saheb, Biwi Aur Ganster, Dhulia spoke candidly about creative constraints in contemporary filmmaking and the gradual decline of single-screen theatres. He also spoke about the influence of his friendship with actor Irrfan Khan. The actor-director recalled some moving moments of their time spent together. Read on...

‘There can be none like Irrfan’

The session turned emotional when Dhulia spoke about Irrfan Khan. The duo worked together in films like Paan Singh Tomar, Haasil and Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster Returns . “You cannot write or think of making a film with Irrfan in mind, as there is no one who can do justice. He was my only real friend in the industry,” he said. “The film industry is an insecure place. You need friends, but rarely have any. Life passes in anticipation.” Recalling their bond, he added, “Hum sirf kaam nahi karte the, hum dost the. Mujhe patang udaane ka shauk nahi tha, usse tha… toh I spent my day watching him. That’s the friendship we shared. I could talk to him about my insecurities, and he would always encourage me. After his passing, I don’t have a friend like that anymore,” said Tigmanshu.

‘I was confused, But the open space of theatre shaped me’

Dhulia revisited his formative years at the National School of Drama, recalling entering as a young man unsure of himself. “I didn’t know what I was doing with my life then. Uss waqt bhi bahut confuse tha main. The open environment, where conversations were constantly happening and people were learning from one another, taught me everything,” he said. Watching seniors perform, including Irrfan Khan, helped him understand what theatre truly demands.

‘My films may look alpha-male, but my characters demand freedom’

Asked about the recurring portrayal of power in his films, Dhulia insists it has little to do with dominance. “Hum Allahabadiyon ko ek khaas vardaan mila hai, hum kisi se dab ke nahi rehte,” he said. Explaining his cinematic voice, he added, “It is not about a sense of power. My films may look ‘alpha-male,’ but that’s because my characters demand freedom. They cannot live under authority; they defy it. I’ve always loved action films stories that explore rebellion and the search for space.”

He also expressed discomfort with the growing popularity of rage-driven, violent cinema. “There’s a lot of anger on screen today, which reflects society, but I don’t enjoy that kind of cinema. Everything feels monstrous.”

‘Acting is the easiest job in the world’

Asked whether the director in him ever takes over while working as an actor, he reflects, “When I feel the director is young or unsure, and I sense that something might go wrong on screen, I do step in. Not to take over, but for the betterment of the film. At the end of the day, if something looks wrong, it’s the actor who faces the camera and the audience.” Answering further if acting tempts him more than direction, Dhulia dismissed the idea instantly. “Hindustani cinema main jis tarah ki acting hoti hai usmein acting mushkil nahi hai. Acting is the easiest job in the world. And I’m not here to do easy things. Actors are not paid to act; they are paid to wait,” he said.

Recalling a moment from the sets of Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster Returns where the cast was staying in a haveli, Dhulia further shares an incident that stayed with him,“We were shooting Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster 2 and all the actors were staying in rooms within the haveli. I had removed a bee nest, and Irrfan scolded me quite a bit for it. None of the other actors said anything—only him. That’s when I realised how sensitive he was to these things, how deeply aware and caring he was beyond the craft,’’ he said.

‘ One cannot be bigger than the art’

The session drew to a close with Dhulia revealing that he is currently working on a biopic of K Asif, the legendary filmmaker behind Mughal-e-Azam. He added that he has no interest in becoming a factory churning out similar films. “I am not a factory that wants to churn out similar things. Style should always be there, that doesn’t mean that all movies should look alike, but that is the journey you keep fighting to look for the kalakaar in you. One cannot be bigger than the art,’’ he shared.

-Amina Ashraf