10 Years of D-Day: Nikkhil Advani reveals Irrfan Khan didn’t want to work with Kal Ho Naa Ho director; adds Rishi Kapoor was initially unconvinced about playing Dawood Ibrahim 10 : Bollywood News

On July 19, 2013, the action thriller D-Day hit the big screens. Directed by Nikkhil Advani, it starred an ensemble cast of Irrfan Khan and Rishi Kapoor. While celebrating the film’s 10^th anniversary, director Nikkhil, who made his directorial debut with Kal Ho Naa Ho, shared some memories from the sets of the film.

10 Years of D-Day: Nikkhil Advani reveals Irrfan Khan didn’t want to work with Kal Ho Naa Ho director; adds Rishi Kapoor was initially unconvinced about playing Dawood Ibrahim

In an interview with Indian Express, Nikkhil recalled doing a breakdown of 50 shots to impress Irrfan. He asserted, “He was the guy who had come after working with Ang Lee! In fact, Irrfan didn’t want to work with me! He said, ‘You’re the Kal Ho Naa Ho guy, I don’t how (and) what Ritesh and you are going to do with this script eventually!’ I had to get Anurag Kashyap to speak to him and tell him that I’m also the guy who also wrote Iss Raat Ki Subah Nahi, worked with Sudhir Mishra. That’s where his heart actually was, so I had to get Kashyap to speak to him!”

Speaking on Rishi Kpaoor’s casting, Advani said, “We had worked in Patiala House together and were fond of each other. We were also neighbours because I lived in a building right next to his house in Pali Hills. I became somewhat of his buddy, we would meet, watch films together. I actually went to him with Nassar sir’s role (who played Chief of RAW Ashwini Rao). But he wasn’t that kicked about it and then he showed me a still of Rauf Lala from Agneepath (2012).”

He further added, “I went back home, and the next day told him, ‘Chintu ji you are right, why don’t you play Dawood Ibrahim?’ He was shocked and told me, ‘Paagal ho gaya hai kya, ye main kaise kar sakta hoon (Have you lost it, how can I do this role)? But I insisted we do a look test. When he came out of the van, he said, ‘Let’s do this.’”

Also Read: Nikkhil Advani reveals Rishi Kapoor hugged Irrfan Khan after watching his performance in D-Day