This actor went to Rajesh Khanna’s home to repair his AC, Kaka saw and said…, he later became a superstar, his name was…

This actor was a big name not just in Bollywood, but Hollywood as well. His dialogue delivery, on-screen presence and admirable personality left fans disappointed when he passed away at the age of 53. But his memories and remarkable contribution in Indian cinema still lives on. We are talking about none other the legendary actor Irrfan Khan.

Before he became an actor, Irrfan aspired to be a cricketer. He even got selected for the CK Nayudu Trophy tournament, but couldn’t play as he didn’t have money to buy things required for the match. Unfortunately, he had to give up on his dreams and moved ahead with what destiny had planned for him.

Irrfan on his early struggles in Bollywood

Irrfan wanted to earn enough money to meet his daily requirements. In a conversation with Naseeruddin Shah on India Today, Irrfan opened up about his struggles in Bollywood and said, “My only struggle was to sustain my inspiration. That time I realised that being an actor isn’t my inner call, it was a cultivated desire. First thing I bought from my salary was a VCR to watch films.”

When Naseeruddin asked how ‘the acting bug’ bit him, Irrfan shared that he was taking a technical training and came to Mumbai from Jaipur. It was then when he went to superstar Rajesh Khanna’s house to repair his air conditioner. He said, “I was doing some training in a technical course in Jaipur and I came to Bombay through this training of air conditioning. Then I started going on the field, to different houses to repair air conditioners. This is when I thought that it is so boring. I realised I cannot earn money just for the sake of earning money, it has to be the by-product. I have to be fascinated with what I am doing.”

When Irrfan went to Rajesh Khanna’s house

Recalling the moment when he went to Rajesh Khanna’s house to fix his AC, he shared, “Rajesh Khanna (laughs). I still remember the way bai opened the door she said ‘kaun?’ I said ‘AC wala’ and she replied ‘Aaiye’. Then I went to Jaipur and thought that mai air conditioning seekh jaunga then mai bahar jaaunga. I used to think jo bahar jaata hai usko paisa hi milta hai.”

After coming back to Jaipur, Irrfan’s father introduced him to someone who hired him at a fan repairing shot. During that moment, he realised that making a lot of money wasn’t just enough.

Irrfan on his family’s reaction to him becoming an actor

Irrfan shared that while he was thinking to join a drama school, his father passed away. Asking whether his parents had any problem with the choice of his profession, the Piku actor shared, “The year that I thought I’ll got to drama school, my father died. Life was trying to test me. My father never had a problem, my mother did. When she came to drama school and saw it is a college and people study but she hates it. Even now when I go home she says ‘kuch aur kaam kyun nahi kar leta.”

Irrfan Khan’s final film appearance was in Angrezi Medium. The actor passed away in 2020 after a two-year long battle with cancer.

News