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Irrfan Khan Turned Down A Hollywood Film Alongside Scarlett Johansson

Why Irrfan Is Being Choosy With His Films (Even If They Star Scarlett Johansson)
MUMBAI, INDIA - APRIL 28: Bollywood actor Irrfan Khan during the showcase of Melange by Lifestyle's Piku inspired ethnic wear collection on April 28, 2015 in Mumbai, India. (Photo by Pramod Thakur/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
Hindustan Times via Getty Images
MUMBAI, INDIA - APRIL 28: Bollywood actor Irrfan Khan during the showcase of Melange by Lifestyle's Piku inspired ethnic wear collection on April 28, 2015 in Mumbai, India. (Photo by Pramod Thakur/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

Basking in the glow of several accolades in recent times, Irrfan Khan has caused yet another mini-sensation. In an interview to NDTV, the 49-year-old actor revealed that he had recently turned down an offer to act in a Hollywood film produced by Steven Spielberg, alongside Scarlett Johansson.

Speaking to Mumbai Mirror about his decision, he said: "No is never a pleasant thing to say. I believe there is a right time for things to fall in place. I feel extremely humbled by the kind of opportunities that come my way and I am hungry for so much more as an actor."

The film, Ghost In The Shell, is being directed by Rupert Sanders (Snow White And The Huntsman). It is the first live-action film adaptation of a popular Japanese media franchise that began as a manga in the late '80s and has since spawned a number of animated films, TV series, and video games.

Sources close to the actor told HuffPost India that Khan has had several opportunities to work in big international films as well as TV shows, but he has been extremely choosy since he is only interested in the "right ones". As of now, he is yet to sign a new film, Hindi or otherwise.

Last year, Khan had turned down an opportunity to be a part of Ridley Scott's acclaimed sci-fi drama The Martian (2015), owing to a scheduling conflict with Shoojit Sircar's Piku (2015). Before that, he'd turned down Christopher Nolan's Interstellar (2014), as it would've taken up four months of his time and he didn't have the dates to spare.

"It's quite a dilemma for me to make such choices as I am at a stage in my career where I'm trying my best to surprise my audience with every role, give them some variety," he told Mirror. "Who wouldn't want to work with prestigious names like Ridley Scott and Steven Spielberg! I am hoping the future holds something so path-breaking and so empowering for me as an artist that a 'no' will not be an option."

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.