Blackmail: Kirti on being 'intimidated' by Irrfan's acting calibre, his health issues

Kirti Kullhari may have made her debut with Khichdi back in 2000, but she’s taken up some power-packed roles after the comic caper. From Shaitaan to Pink and Indu Sarkar, Kirti has proved her acting chops.

She’s now glad to have bagged movies like Blackmail and a web series called Four More Shots, which is based on love, sex, friendship and bonding, directed by Anu Menon.

As she talks about the black comedy Blackmail, Kirti says that she enjoyed working on a rib-tickler after very long. “Working on movies like Pink and Indu Sarkar was taxing, exhausting and draining. But an actor stays alive only by doing such emotional and intense characters. Now I’m getting films of different genres, and it’s a welcome break,” she says.

Kirti worked with Irrfan Khan in Blackmail, and is all praises for the actor, who is suffering from a neuroendocrine tumour. “I completely enjoyed working on this movie, especially because I’m performing with an intense actor like Irrfan. He has a vast knowledge of all kinds of genres, technically as well as through his performances. I was really intimidated by his acting calibre. However, he would ask me simply if I could do it a certain way. And guess what? I would be utterly surprised that the scene would turn out superbly!”

About his ill health, she adds, “I did send Irrfan a couple of messages. I do understand we’re all unhappy about this development, and that he’s in no space to reply to any of our messages.”

Kirti sighs, saying that she’s missed him during the promotions of Blackmail, which is releasing soon. “It was unexpected,” she says. “We’re all feeling heartbroken and disappointed to not have him around for the promotions. However, it’s very graceful of Irrfan to tell us that we can go ahead with the movie’s promotions.”