Irrfan Khan was regarded as one of the most gifted actors in Indian cinema. Throughout his illustrious career, he starred in numerous successful and unforgettable films. His final theatrical release was Angrezi Medium, featuring Radhika Madan. Despite his passing, Irrfan's legacy continues to endure. In a recent interview, producer Nikkhil Advani reminisced about Irrfan, disclosing that he was the initial choice for the 2016 film Airlift.

Irrfan Khan was the FIRST choice for Airlift

In a discussion with Galatta Plus, Nikkhil disclosed that director Raja Menon had intended to cast Irrfan in the film Airlift. The producer supported this decision, as the actor was concurrently engaged in his directorial project, D-Day.

I informed them of my intention to arrange a meeting with Irrfan, who happened to overhear our conversation. He remarked, "Boss, please do not involve me in this film. It is an excellent project, but collaborating with me will not secure the necessary budget. You should approach Akshay; you are familiar with him," he disclosed.

Following Irrfan's recommendation, Nikkhil met with Akshay but discussed a different film. When Kumar dismissed it as 'nonsense,' Advani proceeded to present Airlift, mentioning that Irrfan was not interested in participating. Nikkhil explained to Akshay that he could not take on Airlift due to its serious nature and the director's requirement for conducting workshops.

He expressed his desire to pursue the project. I informed him that Raja was not interested, yet Akshay proceeded with the film. Nikkhil recalled that Akshay participated in numerous workshops. Ultimately, Akshay starred in the 2016 film, which received favourable reviews from both audiences and critics.

More about Airlift

Airlift features Akshay Kumar and Nimrat Kaur in prominent roles, depicting the narrative of a businessman who orchestrated the evacuation of Indian nationals from Kuwait amid the invasion. In this film, Akshay portrays Ranjit Katyal, a businessman residing in Kuwait, while Nimrat plays the character of Amrita Katyal.

For those who did not have the opportunity to view Airlift in theatres, the film is available for streaming on JioCinema.

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