‘Tu hoga Oscar-winning actor par…’: ‘Frustrated’ Rishi Kapoor would scold Irrfan Khan on D-Day sets, recalls Nikkhil Advani

Nikkhil Advani recalled that Irrfan Khan loved cooking, and Rishi Kapoor used to love the chicken he made, while shooting for the 2013-spy-actioner D-Day.

3 min readMumbaiFeb 3, 2026 06:05 PM IST

Rishi Kapoor and Irrfan Khan's D-Day collab remains iconic

Irrfan Khan and Rishi Kapoor passed away just a day apart.

Nobody can forget the tragedy and uncertainty that the initial days of the pandemic brought, and that sense of shock almost doubled at the end of April, when two veterans of the film industry passed away a day apart: Irrfan Khan and Rishi Kapoor. The trauma was collective for the nation, just as it was intensely personal for their loved ones. Fortunately, both had shared the screen once in Nikkhil Advani’s spy actioner D-Day, released in 2013, where they delivered performances at the peak of their craft. In fact, when they passed away, a still of them from D-Day went viral across the internet.

Recently, in an exclusive conversation with SCREEN, Advani reflected on how both actors bonded effortlessly on the sets of the film. “They both hit it off instantly. Rishi Kapoor used to love the chicken that Irrfan made, who really loved cooking, and they bonded really well when we were shooting in the Rann of Kutch area.” However, Advani also recounted how they came from very different schools of acting. Irrfan loved to improvise, while Rishi was particular about sticking to his lines. This sometimes funnily created a friction, and Rishi would occasionally get frustrated with Irrfan’s improvisations.

“Irrfan had just come from Ang Lee’s Life of Pi, and he likes to improvise. He doesn’t like to repeat the same thing over multiple takes because he would think, ‘Then what’s the point of doing another take?’ And Rishi Kapoor was the kind of person who would say, ‘Hit your mark, yaar. Say the line, line par aaja. Tu Oscar-winning actor hoga par bas mujhe bata dein ki tu last words kaunse use karega? I have my cue, I’m waiting for my cue.’ (Hit your mark man. Say the line. You might be an Oscar-winning actor but just tell me which last words you will use. I have my cue, I’m waiting for it.) He belonged to that old-school brigade, so it was quite funny to see. They were from different schools, but they truly respected and admired each other for that one week they shot together.”

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Watch the episode of Cult Comebacks on D-Day here:

In the same conversation, Advani also reflected on how D-Day has found its fanbase over time, even though it initially struggled at the box office. “Over the years, people text me saying it was brilliant, it was the film that made me a filmmaker. But it was disheartening on day one when it released for just Rs 1.75 crore, and I was like, ‘What the hell happened?’”

Anas Arif

Anas Arif is a prolific Entertainment Journalist and Cinematic Analyst at The Indian Express, where he specializes in the intersection of Indian pop culture, auteur-driven cinema, and industrial ethics. His writing is defined by a deep-seated commitment to documenting the evolving landscape of Indian entertainment through the lens of critical theory and narrative authorship. Experience & Career As a core member of The Indian Express entertainment vertical, Anas has cultivated a unique beat that prioritizes the "craft behind the celebrity." He has interviewed a vast spectrum of industry veterans, from blockbuster directors like Vijay Krishna Acharya, Sujoy Ghosh, Maneesh Sharma to experimental filmmakers and screenwriters like Anurag Kashyap, Vikramaditya Motwane, Varun Grover, Rajat Kapoor amongst several others. His career is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, where he frequently tackles the ethical implications of mainstream cinema and the socio-political subtext within popular media. He is also the host of the YouTube series Cult Comebacks, where he talks to filmmakers about movies that may not have succeeded initially but have, over time, gained a cult following. The show aims to explore films as works of art, rather than merely commercial ventures designed to earn box office revenue. Expertise & Focus Areas Anas's expertise lies in his ability to deconstruct cinematic works beyond surface-level reviews. His focus areas include: Auteur Studies: Detailed retrospectives and analyses of filmmakers such as Imtiaz Ali, Anurag Kashyap, and Neeraj Ghaywan, often exploring their central philosophies and creative evolutions. Cinematic Deconstruction: Examining technical and narrative choices, such as the use of aspect ratios in independent films (Sabar Bonda) or the structural rhythm of iconic soundtracks (Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge). Industrial & Social Ethics: Fearless critique of commercial blockbusters, particularly regarding the promotion of bigoted visions or the marginalization of communities in mainstream scripts. Exclusive Long-form Interviews: Conducting high-level dialogues with actors and creators to uncover archival anecdotes and future-looking industry insights. Authoritativeness & Trust Anas Arif has established himself as a trusted voice by consistently moving away from standard PR-driven journalism. Whether he is interrogating the "mythology of Shah Rukh Khan" in modern sequels or providing a space for independent filmmakers to discuss the "arithmetic of karma," his work is rooted in objectivity and extensive research. Readers look to Anas for an educated viewpoint that treats entertainment not just as a commodity, but as a critical reflection of the country's collective conscience. ... Read More

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