When Shah Rukh Khan revealed he did Billu because he wanted to work with Irrfan Khan, “Mera lalach tha woh, mujhe unke saath..."

When Shah Rukh Khan revealed he did Billu because he wanted to work with Irrfan Khan, “Mera lalach tha woh, mujhe unke saath..."

A resurfaced video of Shah Rukh Khan is winning hearts online, showing the superstar open up about his admiration for the late Irrfan Khan. In the clip, Shah Rukh admits his decision to act in Priyadarshan’s 2009 film Billu Barber, later released simply as Billu, was driven by one reason: the chance to work with Irrfan.

Shah Rukh says in the video, “Irrfan bhai ke saath main ek film ki thi Billu. Ek chota sa hi scene tha hamara, lekin mujhe usmein unse bahut seekhne mila. Jab tak main aise kalakaron se seekhta nahi, tab tak main waisi films nahi kar paunga. Maine Billu khud ke lalach ke liye ki thi, ki mujhe unke saath khada hone ka aur unse seekhne ka mauka mile.”

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Translated, he reflects: “I did a film called Billu with Irrfan bhai. We only had a small scene together, but I learned so much from him. Until I learn from such artists, I won’t be able to make films of that level. I did Billu out of my own greed—the greed to stand beside him and have the chance to learn.”

Released in 2009, Billu told the story of a small-town barber, played by Irrfan, whose life is turned upside down when his childhood friend, now a superstar (played by Shah Rukh), returns to the village. While the film had a modest box office run, critics widely praised Irrfan’s grounded and heartfelt performance, which became the film’s emotional anchor.

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The throwback is bittersweet today, knowing Irrfan Khan is no longer with us. The actor, who won global acclaim through films like The Namesake, Paan Singh Tomar, The Lunchbox, Life of Pi, and Slumdog Millionaire, passed away in April 2020 at the age of 53 after a battle with a rare neuroendocrine tumor. His death left a void in world cinema, with tributes pouring in from fans, filmmakers, and co-stars across the globe.