Did you know Irrfan Khan asked Airlift makers to cast Akshay Kumar in film? RECALLS producer Nikkhil Advani

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Did you know Irrfan Khan asked Airlift makers to cast Akshay Kumar in film? RECALLS producer Nikkhil Advani

As a lifestyle expert with years of experience under my belt, I must say that the story of Akshay Kumar and Irrfan Khan’s association with Airlift is quite fascinating. It’s always intriguing to see how roles can change hands, and yet, the final product turns out to be a masterpiece.

Do you recall the movie “Airlift,” where Akshay Kumar portrayed Ranjit Katyal, orchestrating the evacuation of Indians from Kuwait? This 2016 film was inspired by the real-life experiences of Indian businessman Mathunny Mathews based in Kuwait.

Initially, the producers of Airlift considered offering the leading role to the late actor Irrfan Khan, but this part eventually went to Akshay Kumar, as disclosed by filmmaker Nikkhil Advani who produced the movie starring Akshay Kumar and Nimrat Kaur.

Nikkhil Advani talks about approaching Irrfan Khan for Airlift

During an interview with Galatta Plus, producer Nikkhil Advani shared that Irrfan Khan was initially selected for the character of Ranji Katyal. Unfortunately, Irrfan declined the part and proposed Akshay Kumar as his replacement instead.

In 2013, Advani learned from Irrfan, his co-star in D-Day, that the director of Airlift had expressed interest in him for a role. When the producer of Airlift informed the director that they would arrange a meeting with Irrfan, it was during this conversation that Irrfan happened to hear about it.

Advani stated that he was told, “Skip working on this excellent movie with me, as you won’t secure funding.” Instead, he suggested going to Akshay.

Here’s how Akshay Kumar reacted to the offer

As a lifestyle expert looking back, I remember Akshay Kumar turning down a script and expressing interest in the project Airlift. In our conversation, I shared that Irrfan Khan had declined Airlift, prompting Khiladi Kumar to ask me why he hadn’t considered him for the role initially.

Advani made it clear to him that this role was significant and required specific workshops according to the director’s wishes. Yet, Akshay accepted the task and participated in every workshop instead.

Irrfan Khan and Akshay Kumar work fronts

Irrfan Khan is fondly remembered for his performances in movies such as Life of Pi, Haasil, Hindi Medium, Paan Singh Tomar, Madaari, The Lunchbox, Maqbool, among others. This talented actor’s final appearance was in Angrezi Medium, where he shared the screen with Radhikka Madan in a leading role.

As a lifestyle enthusiast, I’ve had the pleasure of being part of some fantastic Bollywood productions over the years. Movies like “Garam Masala,” “Hera Pheri,” “Mujhse Shaadi Karogi,” “Bade Miyan Chhote Miyan,” and “Sarfira” have been a significant part of my journey in the film industry. Each one holds a special place in my heart and I’m grateful for the experiences they’ve provided me.

Currently, he possesses movies like “Khel Khel Mein,” “Singham Returns,” “Welcome Back,” “Rise of the Guardians,” “Jolly LLB 3,” and “Phir Hera Pheri.”

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2024-07-31 20:22