Late actor Irrfan Khan He continues to be remembered as one of the finest actors Indian cinema has ever seen. Known for his effortless acting and deeply layered performances, the actor left an unforgettable legacy in both Bollywood and international cinema. But sometime Irrfan also struggled with insecurity while preparing to work with a big commercial star. Sunny Deol.In an interview with Bollywood Hungama, director Neerraj Pathak recalled how Irrfan Khan initially refused to be a part of the thriller “Right Yaaa Wrong” because he was afraid. sunny Deol’s powerful screen presence would overshadow his role.
Irrfan Khan was initially hesitant about the film
Neerraj Pathak shared that Sunny Deol instantly loved the script of ‘Right Yaaa Wrong’ and wanted to know who would be opposite him. The filmmaker revealed that he had always considered Kay Kay Menon or Irrfan Khan for the parallel lead role. The director also mentioned that he knew Irrfan from the day they worked together in the Doordarshan serial ‘Anugoonj’ and had promised him years before that he would cast him as the lead actor in his first film.Despite liking the script, Irrfan Khan was reportedly worried about coming on screen with Sunny Deol’s larger-than-life image.Recalling the actor’s concern, Neerraj Pathak said, “He told me, ‘Bhai, you are Sunny Deol’s friend and favourite. He is such a terrific actor. Maan lo agar woh zor se chilla denge toh mera role waise bhi kamzor ho jayega.'” (“Bro, you are a massive actor for Sunny Deol,” he exclaims in a loud scene, then my role automatically starts looking weak in comparison.“)According to the filmmaker, Irrfan genuinely believed that Sunny’s lively dialogue and commanding screen presence could overpower his rather subtle acting style.
Irrfan Khan thought that the film would favor Sunny Deol
Neerraj Pathak added that Irrfan feared that the film might inadvertently center around Sunny Deol due to the filmmaker’s close friendship with the actor. However, the director repeatedly assured Irrfani that Sunny was one of the most confident actors in the industry and someone who never got in the way of another actor’s role or scene. Even after these interviews, Irrfan was not convinced, and Neerraj cast Kay Kay Menon in the role.
Which finally convinced Irrfan Khan
When the filmmaker was about to go ahead with Kay Kay Menon, Irrfan Khan reportedly called him again and asked to listen to the script one more time. Neerraj later visited the actor on the sets of ‘Krazzy 4’ and retold the story. This time, Irrfan was very surprised. The filmmaker recalled Irrfan saying, “Script toh teri faadu hai.” (“Your script is absolutely explosive and brilliant.”)However, the late actor wanted to ensure that the film would stay true to the script and not compromise his character’s arc. Once Neerraj Pathak convinced Sunny Deol that he respected stories over stars, Irrfan finally agreed to do the film.
‘Right Yaaa Wrong’ failed at the box office despite the accolades
Released in 2010, ‘Right Yaaa Wrong’ garnered positive reviews for its compelling narrative and performances, especially by Sunny Deol and Irrfan Khan. Critics praised the contrast between Sunny’s intense energy and Irrfan’s restrained brilliance. Despite the appreciation, the film was a commercial failure and reportedly grossed only around 4 million theatrically.The thriller later came to be known as a “properly mismarketed film”, a statement that Sunny Deol himself publicly agreed with while criticizing the film’s promotional strategy.Even today, ‘Right Yaaa Wrong’ remains memorable for bringing together two completely different acting styles on screen – Sunny Deol’s explosive mass appeal and Irrfan Khan’s dimwitted genius.
