Priyanshu Painyuli opens up about lost opportunity to work with Irrfan Khan due to illness: 'Very unfortunate moment for me'

Priyanshu Painyuli recently spoke about a unique opportunity that might have altered his career path—a film co-starring the late iconic actor Irrfan Khan. Sadly, the project was shelved after Irrfan was diagnosed with cancer.

The loss was especially painful for Priyanshu, who had already begun physical training for the role and was excited about the chance to act alongside a hero he greatly respected.A Heartbreaking Moment in His CareerTalking to The Free Press Journal, Priyanshu revealed, "There was another film with Vishal Bhardwaj that he was making but he stopped because Irrfan sir fell sick. That is one very unfortunate moment for me". Painyuli said that that was a deeply disappointing moment for him, as he had a strong desire to work with Irrfan, even if it was for just one scene.

In fact, his role involved several scenes with the late actor. To prepare, Priyanshu committed to gaining weight and looked to age himself for the part by eating heavily for two weeks and growing a beard and moustache.

Despite his dedication, the film was ultimately shelved due to Irrfan’s health issues, marking a significant missed opportunity in Priyanshu’s career.Close to Landing Lead in 'The White Tiger'He shared that he was a strong contender for the lead role in 'The White Tiger', which was ultimately played by Adarsh Gourav.

He recalled being shortlisted, meeting with the director, and undergoing a makeup test to embody the character. However, the part didn’t go to him because he appeared “a little too urban for the role.” Despite this, Priyanshu praised Adarsh’s performance, saying, “When I saw Adarsh in the movie, I felt he fit the bill perfectly. He is a great actor.”Priyanshu’s Career HighlightsOn the work front, Priyanshu is known for his roles in films like 'Bhavesh Joshi Superhero', 'Extraction', and the Amazon series 'Mirzapur'. Starting as a model and assistant director, he gained acclaim across mainstream and independent cinema.