Irrfan and I first met in 2010 when he was my showstopper at a fashion show in Kolkata. I think it was his first ramp walk. That was the beginning of our friendship. After that, we developed a rapport. I visited his previous place in Mumbai and met his family. Whenever he used to come to Kolkata for shooting, he used to call and say, “Ajao Abhishek.” When he was shooting here for Gunday, he came down to my studio.
In fact, he was sitting in my studio when he got a call informing him about the news of winning a National Award for Paan Singh Tomar.
There is a green jacket I made for him during Kareeb Kareeb Single and that somehow became his favourite. He wore that all the time --- during the film shoot, the poster shoot and at the premiere. I saw him wearing that at the premiere of Jazba too! He wore it so much that I made a second piece of the jacket and couriered it to him.
Today, I have lost one of my dearest stars. Though I knew his health wasn’t in great shape, his demise is difficult to swallow. It is a sad day for me.