Irrfan Khan on why desh so raha hai: Don’t know if somebody is courageous enough to answer me

It was fantastic. We actually underestimate children when we say they are just into fun things. You keep a track of them. They are much ahead of children at our time. They have so much exposure. And our cinema, our TV, don’t provide them much. And that is why they are watching Hollywood stuff or whatever they are getting on YouTube and keeping them engaged. Its a misconception that they are just much into jokes and fun elements.

Watch: Exclusive Interview With Irrfan Khan On Madaari, His Bollywood Journey & More

So you say “Aaj Kal ke bachhey kaafi samjhdaar hain”?

O yes, absolutely. They are much more receptive. We only think that they will just love cartoons. It’s not like that. And our film (Madaari) is not just a thriller, it’s an emotional drama. And I wanted to test them. And they enjoyed it a lot. Some of them even gave reviews.

Talking about your journey in Bollywood. When Haasil (2003) happened, you became a sensation. But your debut was way back in 1988 with Salaam Bombay and after few TV series like Chandrakanta there was a huge gap. How did you survive through period because aspiring actors today have numerous platforms which were not available during that time?

That was a testing time of my life. Life was testing me in all fields. Whether its was relationships, profession or my health. Everything was being tested. And most of time when there is test, it is for a purpose. There is a kind of learning behind it. And if you connect to it you realise it is not just to grill you but it tries to nudge you towards a direction. And that’s what those years did to me. They taught me huge lessons about so many things. I wouldn’t have been what I am today as a person if I wouldn’t have gone through those tests. It completely changed my perception about many things.

Did you ever think of quitting acting at that time?

Not quitting, but I thought of becoming a director or producer or something which would engage me more than acting. But I never thought ki “yaar main koi dhandha shuru kar doon (I should start a business).”

Irrfan Khan in a still from Madaari.

And then Haasil happened?

Not just Haasil, but also Warrior. Both happened at the same time.

Now this character of Ranvijay Singh in Haasil. It’s a popular character till date, at least among the youngsters. What was so special about it that it has such a connection with the youth?

Actually, it was coming from real experiences. It was coming from a person who has lived that life. And through students politics it was an attempt to tell about what’s happening in real politics across the country. It had layers, it had charm about the language (Allahabad). The way the director experimented with the language in that film was not seen before. And that film actually inspired a new breed of directors and writers who have now become established in the industry. So Haasil brought a lot of change and inspiration for the younger generation. And when I was doing that film I never thought “iska kya yoga ya kya nateeja niklega (what will happen of this)”. My only concern was that I don’t get chance to do films. And now since I have got it, I should give the best shot. I knew something was interesting about the film and had high hopes.

But the film didn’t do well. Why?

Because, at that time the platforms weren’t ready. The multiplexes were not there. If it would have come in today’s time, it would have done wonders. But I will say it got its due. the way it has remained in people’s life, it has done its job.

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Were you ever involved in students politics?

No, because I had thought I will have nothing to do in politics. I was never attracted to even political science as a subject. But as you grow and become aware about systems which is running you then you understand that nobody can detach themselves from politics.

So this punchline in Madaari, Desh so raha hai. Is this in context of politics or people in general?

It’s about people. Complacency of people who are gullible. They are so easily manipulated whether it’s cast, religion or promises. Infant consumerism, people are not aware what it is doing to them. The sense of immediate gratification is growing so bigger and bigger. Tomorrow, if a politician comes and says ‘mai sab ko do do soney ki biscuit de dunga (I will give a couple of gold biscuits to all)’, people will surely vote for him. This immediate gratification has gone like a virus which has gone inside us. And we as a society who were so away from it once have now become victim of it. And we are not even aware of it. So it’s the awareness which I am talking about when I say Desh so raha hai. We have lost our objectivity our analytic ability and our mind.

So desh kaise jagega?

Who knows. This is the question I am throwing. I am not a leader. I am not a politician. I am no sociologist or an economist. I just reflect things in an emotional and little intellectual way. That is my job and that is what I do. I am not responsible for changing it. I am responsible about myself.

Watch: Madaari trailer

So are you going to ask this question to the politicians you have taken appointment with like Kejriwal and Rahul Gandhi.

Yes.

You met Lalu Yadav, did you raise your concerns to him?

Yes, I met him. The meeting was nice. He was very courteous and generous. But I didn’t get the answers. My conversation with him is there on my FB. But I am still looking for the answers. Don’t know if somebody is courageous enough to answer me.

Just like Desh so raha hai, there was a one-liner in Paan Singh Tomar, ‘Beehad me Baaghi hotel chain, dacoit millte hain parliament me’. Now Kejriwal, whom you will meet tomorrow, used to refer this line during his rallies. And now, when he is in the Assembly, do you think he has stood on the promises he made. Do you follow him?

See, I am not living in Delhi. Not facing those problems. I am nobody to judge that. But if you are asking me, I will ask him. But that’s not my concern right now. But yes environment is a big thing and he tried to do something. How much he is successful or unsuccessful, I do not depend on Twitter of Facebook to understand that. Because I will have to live in that situation to understand it. You should see whether the politician is concerned enough or not. It takes time for things to be done. Politician and refer its, if the combination is not there, it’s not a good thing. A politician has to have a reform inside him. If there is a will then changes do happen.