Pakistani actor, Adnan Siddiqui took to Instagram and shared a video of late Bollywood actor Irrfan Khan from shooting of film A Mighty Heart.
Siddiqui recalled how he used to discuss cricket with Khan, he wrote, “It would be an affront to both Pakistan and India if its citizens, while working together, don’t turn their workplace into a cricket ground. Obviously, our sports rivalry for the gentleman’s game is so prominent to be ignored even on film sets.”
He continued, “When I was shooting for A Mighty Heart in Pune, Irrfan sahib and I often indulged in long drawn discussions on cricket and Pak-Indo matches played previously, each offering his own expertise on what should have been. This was the only instance when he would forget that I was a ‘guest’ from sarhad paar who should be treated with kid’s gloves, and get into vociferous arguments on how brilliant Indian players were, the command they had over the game etc.”
Ye Dil Mera actor added, “In those conversations, I could feel that he wanted to challenge me to a game, both of us being ardent players. And then one day, he dropped the bomb, “Let’s have a match.” Soon enough, the backyard of the hotel where we were staying turned into local Lords, with arch rivals taking on each other.”
The 51-year-old further added, “This was also my time to bowl him over—something I couldn’t do in acting as he left me stumped every time. My bowling experience came in handy and I took his wicket not once but thrice! How could Irrfan sahib, representing India, let this slide? He muttered—baap baap hota hai something, vowing to avenge his wicket. He was determined and so was I. For once, the scales tilted in my favour and I still can’t stop gloating about it.”
Siddiqui concluded, “This video took me back to Pune and to simpler times when we could have after parties without masks and SOPs in place, when artists weren’t shackled by borders and political agendas. Irrfan sahib with his wife Sutapa Sikdar and son Ayaan at the after party of A Mighty Heart at the iconic Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai.”
