Tabu should've got a National Award: Irrfan

28 Apr 2015
Hindustan Times (Mumbai)
Anjuri Nayar Singh - anjuri. nayar@ hindustantimes. com

Tabu should've got a National Award'


Irrfan Khan rues the lack of recognition of true talent in Bollywood; says the industry is "surviving on mediocrity"

Irrfan Khan was disappointed when Tabu, his co-star in Haider (2014), did not receive a National Award for the film. The 48-year-old says that incidents like these make him doubt the authenticity of these awards ceremonies.

"I am surprised that Tabu did not get a National Award. Her performance in Haider was one of the best performances by any Indian actress in Hindi cinema," he says, adding, "There are so many awards nowadays, and no one cares for them. They don't even write your name (on an award). Everyone says that they are not biased, but the fact is that there are four-five people sitting there and deciding who wins what. It's all a joke."

The actor feels that awards must be given to individuals who add novelty to the industry. "Awards should be for people who bring new elements and give new dimensions to cinema. I think it is high time that we come up with an award with integrity and respect. When you get an award that carries some weight, it feels nice. Like when I got the Padma Shri (2011), it made me feel like whatever I was doing was reaching people," he says.



Meanwhile, Irrfan has recently started work on his new Hollywood project, co-starring Tom Hanks. He and says that he looks up to the international film industry because it respects talent. He feels that Bollywood should learn this from them. "They respect talent, and we are the last ones to care about it. We are just surviving on mediocrity. We should learn to recognise and respect talent."

Dig on Kangana?! 😆 Even if it is, I don't care---her current behavior is so off-putting.

I agree , Her performance was extraordinary, she deserved the award more than kangana.

Tabu was amazing in Haider. She should have won.

Not necessarily a dig on Kangana. While she got it for BA ...Well deserved ... Tabu should have gotten it for SA category! I do agree with Irfan ... BW Awards are a joke.

Tabu was supporting in Haider so it cant be a dig at Kangana. At this point i doubt that Tabu cares, she already has too many NAs.

I agree. Tabu in Haidar > Kangana in Queen

Tabu was great in Haider but her performance or character wasn't carrying the movie alone...even though she possessed the advantage of an extremely complex and intriguing character on paper, her performance wasn't revolutionary. Rani as a character on paper was much more typical and could easily have been under or overdone, but it's Kangana's nuanced performance that brought the movie together convincingly all on its own and made quite a large impact, especially as a female-led project. It's quite obvious who deserves the performance award. Irrfan shouldn't whine on her behalf.

Tabu deserved it more than Kangana

Maybe but I can also get a good look up a cows ass by putting my head up there but Id rather take the butchers word for it 😆😆