This Article is From May 12, 2020

Irrfan Khan Described His Maqbool Co-Star Tabu As His "Screen Soulmate," Recalls Bhawana Somaaya

"He said that whenever we have worked together it has been magic," wrote Bhawana Somaaya

Irrfan Khan Described His Maqbool Co-Star Tabu As His 'Screen Soulmate,' Recalls Bhawana Somaaya

Irrfan Khaan with Tabu. (Image courtesy: bhawanasomaaya)

Highlights

  • Irrfan and Tabu's first film together was Maqbool
  • Tabu and Irrfan Khan also co-starred in The Namesake and Life Of Pi
  • Irrfan and Tabu's last film together was Talvar
New Delhi:

In her new Instagram entry, film critic and journalist Bhawana Somaaya shared a still of late actor Irrfan Khan and Tabu. In her post, she recalled that Irrfan, who had worked with Tabu in films like Maqbool, The Namesake, Life Of Pi, Ghaath, Haider, and Talvar, had described the actress as his "screen soulmate." She added in her post, "Irrfan described Tabu as his screen soulmate. He said that whenever we have worked together it has been magic."

In her post, Ms Somaaya stated that Irrfan's Maqbool co-star Tabu "revealed that the credit of transforming Irrfan's screen persona goes to Vishal Bharadwaj." She wrote in her post: "Maqbool changed his destiny, his co-star Tabu revealed that the credit of transforming Irrfan's screen persona goes to Vishal Bharadwaj, who presented Irrfan a relative newcomer like a star and Irrfan agreed with Tabu. He added that when a filmmaker believes in the actor, the actor believes in himself and the chemistry is evident on the screen and that's what happened in Maqbool."

Read Bhawana Somaaya's post here:

Blog Number: 1805 Good bye Irrfan Khan Part 2 The next time I met Irrfan Khan, he was making a name for himself in the movies. I mean he was already known for Mira Nair's Salaam Bombay and Govind Nihalini's Drishti but he was slowly and gradually making a way for himself in the masala movies, did approximately eighteen films between 1988 - 1999 but what brought him into spotlight was friend Tigmanshu Dhulia's Haasil. In 2003 Irrfan did Naseerudin Shah's Yun Hota Toh Kaisa Hota and Maqbool with Vishal Bharadwaj. Maqbool changed his destiny, his co-star Tabu revealed that the credit of transforming Irrfan's screen persona goes to Vishal Bharadwaj who presented Irrfan a relative newcomer like a star and Irrfan agreed with Tabu, added that 'When a filmmaker believes in the actor, the actor believes in himself and the chemistry is evident on the screen and that's what happened in Maqbool'. In 2011 for Vidya Balan's private screening of The Dirty Picture Irrfan was seated beside me. Post the screening Irrfan, Vidya and I got into a long discussion about the film where we discussed the merits and demerits of biopics. Irrfan was working on Paan Singh Tomar at that time and was curious to know if Vidya and I heard about him. When we drew a blank, he looked visibly disappointed, said 'Aapne nahi suna hani toh kissi ne suna han, tohi phir meri film kaun dekhega?' He need not have worried because Paan Singh Tommar proved a big hit and got Irrfan Khan rave reviews and awards. So did his film The Namesake and Life of Pii both with Tabu, Irrfan described Tabu as his screen soulmate, said 'Whenever we have worked together it has been magic'. To be continued... #irrfankhan #tabu #lifeofpi #namesake #movies #films #lunchbox #haasil #paansinghtomar

A post shared by Bhawana Somaaya (@bhawanasomaaya) on

The Lunchbox star died at a Mumbai hospital on April 29. He battled a tumour for several months and returned to Mumbai some months ago after being treated in London. Irrfan Khan is survived by his wife Sutapa and two sons Babil and Ayan.

Over a span of 30 years, Irrfan Khan starred in several critically acclaimed as well as commercially successful films. Maqbool, Haasil, Paan Singh Tomar, Haider, Pinku, Talvar and the Academy Award-nominated Salaam Bombay! are just a few of them. The actor who acquired a star status over the years, also featured in international projects like The Namesake, Life Of Pi, Inferno, Slumdog Millionaire and The Warrior among others. His last project was Angrezi Medium, co-starring Kareena Kapoor and Radhika Madan.

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