“Irrfan Khan was in a lot of pain while shooting for Angrezi Medium", reveals costume designer

“Irrfan Khan was in a lot of pain while shooting for Angrezi Medium", reveals costume designer

• Irrfan Khan endured pain and health issues while filming Angrezi Medium
• Costume changes and padding were needed due to his shrinking frame
• Some shoot days were cancelled as Irrfan couldn't reach the set

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Irrfan Khan’s final days on a film set were marked by quiet endurance and unwavering commitment, according to costume designer Smriti Chauhan, who has spoken candidly about the actor’s deteriorating health during the shoot of Angrezi Medium.

In a recent conversation on Unfolding Talents (UT) on the Digital Commentary YouTube channel, Smriti recalled how difficult the shoot became as Irrfan’s condition worsened. Those working closely with him could see the physical toll, even though he rarely spoke about his pain.

“He was in a lot of pain when we were shooting Angrezi Medium. He only told me one thing, ‘Smriti, I get very cold’, so he told me about this one brand in London, and he said that please get me warmers from there and I said sure,” she said. Smriti added that his physical frame kept shrinking during the shoot, forcing constant costume adjustments. “During the shoot of the film also he kept shrinking. We had to add a lot of padding to his clothes in that phase. Even though we gave him a lot of layers, we still had to add a lot of padding.”

The changes were not limited to winter scenes. Smriti explained that even sequences meant to portray summer required careful planning to keep him comfortable. “In the film, we gave him a vest to wear for all the summer sequences, and even that had padding. He was ailing,” she shared, underscoring how fragile his health had become.

Despite the pain, Irrfan remained determined to work.

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However, there were moments when his condition made it impossible. Smriti revealed that some shooting days had to be cancelled entirely. “There have been days on Angrezi Medium when we couldn’t shoot because he couldn’t reach the set despite trying. He was in that much pain,” she said. Reflecting on his mindset, she added, “I think he believed that this is what I live for and I, probably, want to just die doing this and I think he did that.”

Directed by Homi Adajania, Angrezi Medium starred Radhika Madan, Kareena Kapoor, Deepak Dobriyal and Ranvir Shorey. The film, a sequel to Hindi Medium, was released shortly before Irrfan Khan passed away in 2020.

Irrfan had revealed in 2018 that he was battling a neuroendocrine tumour, writing at the time, “I hope to be back with more stories to tell.” His legacy now stands not just in his celebrated performances, but also in the quiet courage he showed by continuing to work until the very end.