When Deepika Padukone Was Intimidated To Work With Irrfan Khan In Piku

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APRIL 29,2025

The year 2020 was extremely harsh on us. With COVID forcing a global lockdown, Bollywood lost some of its precious gems. In the same year, we lost artists like Irrfan Khan, Rishi Kapoor, and Sushant Singh Rajput to various ailments and controversies. It felt like a personal loss.

Speaking of the Hindi Medium actor, he was one of the finest, most effortless artists we have ever come across. His comic timing, intense acting skills, and exceptional performance brought magic to the screen.

On Irrfan Khan's death anniversary, we bring to you an interesting anecdote from the time when Deepika Padukone was scared to share the screen with her Piku co-star as she was afraid of being judged.

Deepika Padukone was intimidated to work with Irrfan Khan

For the uninitiated, the two actors collaborated on Shoojit Sircar's Piku, a film based on a raw and beautiful father-daughter relationship. While the actress played the role of an independent and opinionated architect, Irrfan was seen as the owner of a cab service agency.

Also starring Amitabh Bachchan in a pivotal role, the slice-of-life film was massively loved for its relatable humor and had all three actors bring in their A-game.

Also Read: Babil Khan Shares A Throwback Photo Of Dad Irrfan Khan Along With An Emotional Note


However, in an old interview, Deepika Padukone admitted being scared of working with Irrfan Khan. She thought the actor would look down on her for only doing commercial films.

'I thought he would be an intense actor, an intense person everything about him is intense, courtesy of the of the media's perception. I thought he would be stern, not interact, and look down upon me for being a commercial heroine. But he is very different from that,' the Padmaavat actress said in a chat with PTI.

Calling him humorous and shy, the new mommy further added, 'He talks less, but when he says it, it is very funny. I think his comic timing is pretty untapped. And no amount of explanation can do justice to the fine talent that he has.'

However, it was quite the opposite for the Life in a Metro actor. Years later, in Shubhra Gupta's book Irrfan: A Life in Movies, the Piku filmmaker revealed that the late actor was rather excited to work with Deepika.

'On the other hand, Irrfan was not scared of working with her he was more excited that he would work with a popular mainstream actress,' the book read.

More about Irrfan Khan

The Maqbool actor made his Bollywood debut in the 1998 release, Salaam Bombay, with a small role. It was The Namesake that made him a household name. Irrfan has portrayed a spectacular body of work in all the decades of his filmy career.

Also Read: 5 Critically Acclaimed Films Starring Irrfan Khan

He also went on to grab some Hollywood projects, like Jurassic Park. It was in 2020 that the actor succumbed to death due to cancer-related competition. He was last seen in Angrezi Medium, opposite Radhika Madan.

Irrfan Khan took his last breath at 53 on April 29, 2020. He is survived by his wife and sons, Babil Khan and Ayaan Khan.