When Rishi Kapoor told Nikkhil Advani that his 'D-Day' co-star Irrfan Khan 'didn't know acting'

Irrfan Khan is hailed as one of the finest actors in the industry, and his untimely death after battling cancer in 2020 left every movie lover heavy-hearted. During the filming of the 2013 thriller 'D-Day', veteran actor Rishi Kapoor reportedly found it difficult to resonate with Irrfan’s methods, and was somewhat irritated by him. Filmmaker Nikkhil Advani once spoke about the contrasting styles of the two powerhouse performers.
In an old conversation with Rajeev Masand, Advani said that Rishi Kapoor was keen to witness the brilliance he had heard about in Irrfan’s performances. However, that admiration quickly turned into frustration during a scene that required improvisation.

“Rishi Kapoor wanted to see it (Irrfan’s unique performance), and fortunately for me, they were doing this one scene where Irrfan decided to improvise. And Irrfan never, ever gives the same cue again. So Rishi Kapoor called me and said, ‘Usko samjhao, usko acting nahi aati hai (Talk to him, he doesn’t know acting),’” Advani recalled.
Irrfan’s improvisational method proved to be a stumbling block for Kapoor, who was used to more structured cues. “I told him, ‘Sir, you don’t have to worry. You start speaking whenever you want to speak; don’t worry about him,’” Advani added.
Later, in an interview with Mid-Day, Nikkhil revealed how both Rishi and Irrfan eventually found common ground. Irrfan played a key role in convincing Kapoor to stay back in the desert for a sunrise shoot. The 'Piku' actor offered Rishi chicken jungli and alcohol. “It was a near-impossible feat in Kutch, but he delivered on his promise, and I got my shot,” Advani shared.
'D-Day' also featured Shruti Haasan, Arjun Rampal, Huma Qureshi, Nassar, and K.K. Raina in key roles.
In April 2020, Rishi Kapoor also passed away, leaving behind his great works.