First films are always special but imagine landing your first big Bollywood role and realizing that you will be sharing screen space with a doyen like Irrfan Khan. It can be intimidating for any actor, and it was for Mithila Palkar too, who made her mark in 2018’s Karwaan. The film, directed by Akarsh Khurana saw her take a road trip along with Irrfan and South star Dulquer Salmaan. The actress talks to TMM about the wonderful memories she has of working alongside the legendary actor and reveals the cute nickname he had for her.
A special shoot
Mithila Palkar,I had met Dulquer earlier, but I met Irrfan sir for the first time only a day before we started shooting for the film. It was all very formal and cordial. I was feeling all these mixed emotions – intimidated and excited. I mean, who isn’t a fan of him? The next day, my first dialogue was to him and I think it took me a good ten days to get used to the fact that I am sharing screen space with him.
He was so hilarious. He would say these really funny things with a straight face and I would end up laughing. It took me a few days to get used to the fact that he is my co-actor. He had this really infectious, very curious, child-like energy about him. We were shooting at these beautiful locations in Kerala and he would play cricket on the sets. We would all hang out together. It was all really chilled-out and fun.
Personal touch
Mithila Palkar,Since my work is predominantly on the internet, he was very curious about how it all happens and would ask me a lot of questions about how the digital world works. And he wanted to learn about it very earnestly. He was a really earnest, honest and genuine person, full of life and positivity.
I have this habit of constantly singing songs. I jump between eras and genres. Once I hadn’t reached the sets as the location was a little far and Irrfan sir asked the director Akarsh, ‘Aaj woh Binaca Geetmala nahi aayi?’ So that became my nickname (laughs). He was an extremely easy person to be with on the sets. If I felt intimidated, it was only because I looked up to him.
Always be remembered
Irrfan sir was like a walking-talking film school. We were in Kerala for a month for the shoot. Even when I was not required, I would be on the sets to watch him work. He would glide in and out of his character so easily. You felt that the character is written for him because he would just own it. Switch on the camera and he would be Shauqat (his character in the film); switch it off and he is Irrfan sir.
I’ve always thought of him as someone I looked up to, so I never really got too friendly to just message him and ask ‘what’s up?’ But I had messaged him when I heard about his health. He couldn’t be there for the promotions and DQ and I would miss him every minute. It would have just been a completely different energy if he had been there.
When he passed away, people who had never met him were writing about him because his loss seemed so personal. And that speaks volumes of the artiste he was and will continue to be for all of us. His loss has been felt by everyone all across the globe. That just goes to show that his legacy will live on.
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