MUMBAI:

Post The Namesake, Life in a... Metro and A Mighty Heart, the talented Irrfan Khan has taken a conscious decision to do only lead roles.

“No more peripheral roles,” Irrfan said.

“In Metro, the writer and director Anurag Basu gave me the freedom to interpret my character how I wanted. If they hadn’t given me this freedom, I’d have gone into my shell, as I often do while doing my job,” he added. The actor came into the limelight after his outstanding performance in Vishal Bharadwaj’s Maqbool. He was flooded with roles after that, but most were for supporting roles.

“I’m rather tired of being treated as a commodity, to be used as and when other ingredients run dry. Now I’ll play the lead and play it with the same conviction and credibility that I extend to my supporting roles. Everyday I get offers to do supporting parts. I’m still struggling against this kind of casting.”

Among the many exciting films that have come to him is Farhan Akhtar’s first period film. And another is a film on the evolution of mobile phones.

“It’s a very interesting script about the evolution of the telephone medium as a means of communication.”

“It has taken me 12 years to build my reputation as a professional and an actor. I won’t allow anyone to snatch away the glory that has come to me now. I’ve waited very patiently.”