John's loss is Irrfan's gain

If the very talented Irrfan Khan is no longer voluntarily unemployed he has John Abraham to thank for it. John was supposed to start his next film Rocky Handsome with director Nishikant Kamat this month. However the dates for Kamat’s film clashed with Anees Bazmi’s Welcome Back. Nishikant has quickly started another film starring Irrfan Khan about a common man’s fight against corruption. The film is said to be inspired by Arvind Kejriwal’s aam aadmi movement. Says director Nishikant Kamat, “When John was unable to shoot with me I was at a loose end. Suddenly everything fell into place. I had this script for two years that I wanted to make with Irrfan in the lead. And look at the coincidence! Irrfan had his dates diary empty. He was on the look-out for a film that would interest him. I guess this project was destined to happen.” The untitled Irrfan starrer would be completed by March. Nishkant starts Rocky Handome with John Abraham from 15 March. Says the director, “The Irrfan film is very much in the realistic space that I attempted in Dombivali Fast and Mumbai Meri Jaan. It’s real gritty and song-less, quite a culture shock for me after completing the Marathi film Lai Bhaari which is in the Rowdy Rathod space and has six songs.” 2014 will see three releases from Nishikant Kamat. “It just happened. The Irrfan starrer I am doing was never intended to start now. Then there is Rocky Handsome with John. My Marathi film Lai Bhaari with Riteish Deshmukh is also releasing this year. So I’ll have three films this year. I may disappear for three years after that.”