Irrfan Khan on a desert safari

Irrfan Khan on a desert safari
He has been chatting up camels and an Iranian actress in Jaisalmer for his new ‘qissa’.

After working together in the critically acclaimed Qissa: The Tale of a Lonely Ghost, Irrfan Khan is again collaborating with director Anup Singh for a love story titled The Song Of Scorpions. The film which is currently being shot in Jaisalmer, also features Iranian actress Golshifteh Farahani who plays Irrfan’s wife in the film.

“Golshifteh plays a woman born in a family of singers residing deep into the desert of Jaisalmer who heals any kind of pain through their music, be it a scorpion or a snake bite. Even a woman tormented by unbearable labour pain is soothed by their songs, as is someone emotionally hurt,” says Anup who began shooting for the film five days ago.

All’s well, till this woman realises that her own life has been emotionally poisoned by a man who is her own husband and goes deep in the deserts to find a song which will heal both of them. Irrfan plays a camel trader and has been prepping up for the role for a year.

“He came to Jaisalmer two weeks before the shoot began to spend some time with the camel traders and understand their profession. He has also been spending a lot of time with the camels and I think by now he has learnt all their calls,” laughs the 54-year-old filmmaker.

The chameleon-like actor’s look in this film is that of a typical man from the deserts, burnt by the sun and dressed in rustic clothes. “From the very beginning Irrfan has been telling me that for this film he will not worry about his image and will only concentrate on the demands of the character,” informs Anup who is convinced his leading man is one of those rare actors who can go beyond the character as he is never satisfied till he gives his all to the film. “He’s a brilliant actor and we respect each others ideas. We are like these two kites which meet to create beautiful, new patterns in the sky.”

Unlike the Punjabi Qissa, The Song of Scorpions despite its angrezi title, is a Hindi film with a touch of Rajasthani. It also features veteran actress Waheeda Rehman who will soon join the cast. “I can’t reveal much about her role at the moment except to say that the film is centred around her character.”

Shashank Arora who debuted in Titli will also play a significant role in the film. “He is someone who is protected by Irrfan’s character and is almost like his son. And he has to prove something to this father figure,” Anup signs off.