Being an international actor gives me a high: Irrfan Khan

New Delhi, March 10 (IANS) Irrfan Khan, popular for his serious and comic roles in Bollywood, is increasingly making inroads into the western world with projects like "A Mighty Heart", "Slumdog Millionaire" and even an American TV show. He admits that being an international actor gives him a high.

"It's always an inner wish of every actor to reach out to maximum audiences. I am lucky that the western world chooses me to play roles in their movies and television, whatever language it maybe. It surely gives you a high to be an international actor with quality work," Irrfan told IANS in an e-mail interview.

His first international film was London-based director Asif Kapadia's "The Warrior". Irrfan played a lead in the film that was shot in Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan. Released in 2001, "The Warrior" was applauded at international film festivals and made Irrfan a known face on the global arena.

In the recent past, the 48-year-old was seen in international projects like Angelina Jolie-starrer "A Mighty Heart" (2007) and Hollywood venture "The Darjeeling Limited" in the same year. He then got a role in British director Danny Boyle's multiple award-winning film "Slumdog Millionaire" and is also working in Jennifer Chambers Lynch's "Hisss".

He is now set to feature in American television show "In Treatment".

Apart from his overseas ventures, Irrfan has quite a few interesting Hindi films in hand. At the moment he is gearing up for the release of "Right Yaaa Wrong", produced by Subhash Ghai.

Irrfan said he had to unlearn acting for the film that is slated to release Friday.

"I had to unlearn acting and act as a real man behind dramatic situations in life of this cop who has to go against his best friend to arrest him. I learnt how to go through heavy dramatic emotions with controlled calmness.

Every scene was a question to me as an actor," he said.

The thriller revolves around two cops - Ajay Shridhar (Sunny Deol) and Vinay Patnaik (Irrfan). Their intense rivalry leads them on a battle for supremacy.

Earlier, Irrfan has played a cop in films like "Rog", "Slumdog Millionaire", "Gunaah" and "New York".

Asked why he decide to take up this role, Irrfan said: "I like challenging roles. Playing a police officer is boring, but playing a human in a police officer's uniform with complex emotions was tough. That was the reason to accept this well-defined role."

After "Right Yaaa Wrong", Irrfan will also be seen in Tigmanshu Dhulia's "Paan Singh Tomar".