Late actor Irrfan Khan, who gained recognition for his stellar performance in Haasil, wasn’t the initial choice for the role. Director Tigmanshu Dhulia recently revealed that Manoj Bajpayee was his first pick for the part, following Bajpayee’s rise to fame after the 1998 hit Satya. However, when Manoj declined the negative role, the opportunity came to Irrfan, marking a significant turning point in his career.
In an interview, Dhulia shared how fate played its part. “Irrfan was a friend, and it was all destiny. There was no grand plan,” Dhulia explained. He further disclosed that Manoj Bajpayee had already become a star by the time Haasil was being cast. “I was friends with Manoj, and we all used to hang out together. I approached him for Haasil while he was filming Ghaath, but Manoj wasn’t interested in playing the villain,” Dhulia recalled.The director admitted that his desire to cast Bajpayee was driven by a practical reason. “Manoj was already a star, and I thought if I could get him on board, producers would follow, making it easier to get the film made,” he said. After Bajpayee declined, Dhulia turned to Irrfan, who went on to deliver a performance that became a major milestone in his career.
Haasil, which also starred Jimmy Shergill, Hrishita Bhatt, and Rajpal Yadav, received critical acclaim upon its release. It marked a pivotal moment for Irrfan, who later went on to feature in acclaimed films like Footpath, Maqbool, and Life in a… Metro. Dhulia and Irrfan continued their successful collaboration with Paan Singh Tomar, a film that earned widespread praise for both the actor and the director.
