Tigmanshu Dhulia: “Irrfan Would Have Won a National Award for ‘Haasil’ if the Producer Had Sent It”
On the sixth death anniversary of the legendary Irrfan Khan (April 29, 2026), a special screening of the documentary A Story That Refused to Die was held at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) in Mumbai.
The event, which celebrated the making of the iconic film Paan Singh Tomar (2012), featured a candid panel discussion with director Tigmanshu Dhulia, filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj, and journalist Saurabh Dwivedi. During the conversation, Dhulia shared a poignant “what if” moment regarding Irrfan’s first major breakthrough, the 2003 crime drama Haasil.
The ‘Haasil’ Controversy
While Irrfan eventually won the National Film Award for Best Actor for Paan Singh Tomar, Dhulia revealed that the honor should have come nearly a decade earlier.
The Producer’s Rift: Dhulia admitted to having a falling out with the producer of Haasil during post-production.
Despite having the film print and the entry fees ready for the Directorate of Film Festivals, the producer refused to submit the film for National Award consideration out of spite toward the director. “Had he sent it, Irrfan would have won the National Award for that film itself,” Dhulia remarked, noting that Irrfan swept almost every private award (including Filmfare) for his terrifyingly brilliant portrayal of Ranvijay Singh.’A Story That Refused to Die’: Rescuing Lost History The 47-minute documentary, directed by Ranjeeta Kaur, is a tribute to the grueling production of Paan Singh Tomar. It features restored footage that was nearly lost to damaged tapes over the last 14 years.
Key Highlights from the Documentary:
The crew filmed in the actual ravines of Chambal, where they encountered real-life dacoits and even stayed in the same cantonment where the real Paan Singh Tomar once lived. The film includes interviews with Balwanta (Paan Singh’s nephew and the sole survivor of the final shootout) and former dacoit Bachna, who provided historical insights. The footage captures Irrfan in his most “unguarded” moments—navigating electricity theft in villages and immersing himself in the physical demands of the role.
A Lasting Legacy
Reflecting on their 34-year friendship, Dhulia emphasized that Irrfan was his “strongest confidant.” The documentary serves not just as a “behind-the-scenes” look, but as a record of the resilience required to make a masterpiece that changed the trajectory of Indian parallel cinema.
As Dhulia aptly put it, while Irrfan has been gone for six years, his contribution remains “eternal,” much like the story that refused to die.
