When it comes to reel life, the romances and ‘larger than life’ vividness has almost always overweighed the simple yet real. Pining for attention has been the intensely hued plots, expressions, running around trees and flowery love making; the garish ensemble of cinema for the masses has always been able to overshadow the brilliant tediousness of reality.
And how easily it has transcended to real life as well, even after death.
Irfan Khan has been my favourite actor from Doordarshan days. I remember the intensity he portrayed in his role of a psycho serial killer in a TV series called ‘Darr’, written by Anurag Kashyap. With the piercing glare and ruthlessness of a damaged lover in Maqbool, the despair in Haider, the simplicity and truthfulness in The Namesake, the playfulness in Life in a metro and many more, Irfan Khan, you have honoured the art and artist in you; you have truly worshipped the deity of cinema. At 53, you’ve gone too soon and have left a void that won’t be filled because uniqueness has no substitute. That inebriated look with those puffy eyes and that tired innocent smile will be missed. I hope the city wasn’t responsible for your illness as you aptly mentioned on a roof in ‘Life in a Metro’,
“Ye shaher
hame jitna deta hai, badle mein kahin jyada humse le leta hai.”
(For what
the city gives, it takes much more from us.)
I remember, on an award’s night, Shahrukh Khan and you arguing and disputing over the grandeur of his romances against the diminutiveness of existential drama. Your derision was justified but we know that the justification doesn’t matter, rather wouldn’t matter for long.
Likewise, we hadn’t mourned you enough, when the stage was yet again taken over by another romantic stalwart; inadvertently in this case, and you were pushed, even if for the moment, to the recesses. Instantly, people’s WhatsApp display pictures changed from your smiling face to the chubby Rishi Kapoor’s. That’s again a name that needs no introduction either. Synonymous with romance, Rishi Kapooor went on from being a frivolous child in Bobby to be the romantic face of the 70s; he was probably the only actor who did justice to any musical instrument in his hands. He brought an era of romance that is again unparalleled. Despite his playing varied dramatic roles later on, his true fans are more likely to remember him for his chocolate boy youthful exuberance and the stubborn arrogance he exuded as a passionate lover; that mischievous smile of youth I’m sure had stirred a lot of hearts.
He made lovers believe,
“Mai shayar toh nahi, magar ai hasin, jab se dekha
maine tujhko, mujhko, shayari aa gayi,
Mai aashiq toh nahi, magar ai hasin, jab se dekha
maine tujhko, mujhko, aashiqui aa gayi.”
His vanity in the ways of portrayal of love led him to even berate another unconventional actor and denounce him with this disparaging remark, “You (Nawazuddin) haven’t done it (running around trees) in your life; neither will you get a chance to do it. And you aren’t capable of doing it either. You don’t have the image; you don’t have the talent.” All Nawazuddin had done was comment on clichéd romances terming it the act of ‘running around trees’.
However, the eclipse of the
WhatsApp display pictures didn’t last beyond the day as they changed to other
random pictures (the restricted time for memories we have). Forgive us our
nonchalance because your art and work are much more than our vain attempt to
glorify you for the day; the pictures might have changed but the essence of
your work remains.
The stars have gone back to the sky. As you dazzle there as celestial bodies in the sky, know that you were revered and are remembered and will be missed forever. Every time you grace our television sets, the path will be tread down memory lane.
Image copyrights:
© Irfan Khan pic1 - https://www.quora.com/Which-is-Irfan-Khans-best-movie
© Irfan Khan pic 2 - https://sahiwal.tv/irfan-khan-will-perform-12-hour-fast-for-laborers-today-revealed-on-social-media/
© Rishi Kapoor pic 1 - https://www.rediff.com/movies/column/rishi-kapoor-knowing-the-real-rishi-kapoor/20200501.htm
© Rishi Kapoor pic 2 - https://english.fashion101.in/news/FAS-CELF-CSF-rishi-kapoor-neetu-singh-rare-pics-fashion-india-5563879-PHO.html?seq=7
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