Radhika Madan reveals she couldn’t spend lot of time with Irrfan Khan off set during ‘Angrezi Medium’: ‘I was informed that his energies are going to be low’ |

Radhika Madan, who got an opportunity to work closely with late Irrfan Khan in ‘Angrezi Medium‘, recently walked down the memory lane ahead of the actor’s death anniversary.
In an interview with Hindustan Times, Radhika discussed her experience of working with Irrfan Khan in the film. She praised him as a legendary actor and described him as a phenomenon.Radhika expressed her admiration for his work and reminisced about watching their film recently, feeling his absence deeply.

During the filming of the movie in October 2019, Irrfan, who was battling a rare form of Neuroendocrine cancer, was unwell. As a result, Madan, the director, couldn’t spend much time with him outside of the set.

The 28-year-old mentioned that he was aware of Irrfan’s low energy levels during filming. They wrapped up shooting in October 2019, and Irrfan passed away in April 2020. The actor recalled shooting the final scene with him, expressing regret that he couldn’t interact with Irrfan as a fan due to seeing him solely as a father figure.
Reflecting on her time spent with the late actor, Madan recalls him fondly as someone who was incredibly respectful and passionate. She credits Irrfan for treating her as an equal rather than a newcomer, which boosted her confidence and motivation. Irrfan’s encouragement and inspiration as a professional deeply impacted her, and she regards herself as his student.
Madan emphasizes that she observed Irrfan as an honest and genuine individual, a trait that transcended into his acting. She learned a valuable lesson from him as an actor – the importance of portraying truth in every scene. Irrfan’s authenticity and comfort in his own skin left a lasting impression on her, as she never witnessed him pretending to be a star; he remained grounded and true to himself.
Madan also admires Irrfan’s humility and dedication on set. She recalls moments when she felt tense before a scene, only to see Irrfan experiencing similar emotions. Despite his stature as Irrfan Khan, he remained passionate and excited about every scene, approaching each with the mindset of a student. His humility and respect for his craft, regardless of his fame, left a profound impact on Madan. She realized that he valued every scene and didn’t take anything for granted, remaining as nervous and invested in the process as she was.
Madan recalls a particular scene from the shoot of Angrezi Medium where Irrfan displayed his commitment to authenticity. In a scene where her character returns home drunk, both she and the director, Homi Adajania, exaggerated the drunkenness for effect. However, Irrfan intervened, insisting that he needed to believe the character was drunk without it being obvious. He refused to proceed until the scene felt genuine. Madan learned from him the importance of staying true to the character’s perspective, regardless of external input, ensuring authenticity in the portrayal.