Irrfan Khan had worked with Vishal Bhardwaj in films like Maqbool, Haider, and 7 Khoon Maaf. The actor-director duo was all set to team up for the fourth time for an untitled film which was also going to star Deepika Padukone in the lead role. Even the look test of the film was done, but the movie was pushed due to the health issues of both the actors.
In February 2018, Vishal Bhardwaj had posted on Facebook about pushing his film. He had written in his post, “I am pushing back the film by a few months as both of my lead actors are down with different health problems. Irrfan is down with jaundice and it will take him a few weeks to recover and Deepika Padukone's back problem which had previously developed during the shooting of Padmaavat has now resurfaced. Her role in the film is very physically demanding and the doctor has advised her not to do any strenuous work for a couple of months. In the past few weeks, I felt like I was back in the days of Maqbool while prepping with them. Deepika and Irrfan’s look tests have come out exceptionally well, nothing like you’ve seen before, and it took me a moment to recognize them when I saw the test photographs. I want both of them to be strong and fit before we start the film. I would also like to clear that the film is still untitled and is not based on Rahima Khan/Sapna Didi’s life. Yes, it’s a takeoff from the story Femme Fatale from Hussain Zaidi’s book Mafia Queens of Mumbai but as we worked on this idea, the story and screenplay have taken on a new identity and shape which is nowhere close to the above-mentioned names. Hence, it’s definitely not a biopic. Sending pyaar and duaaen to my Ustara and Afshan.”
Before it was announced that Irrfan is suffering from a neuroendocrine tumor, it was stated that the actor was down with jaundice.
Deepika and Irrfan had worked together in 2015 release Piku and their sweet chemistry was liked by the audiences. The moviegoers were excited to see them on the big screen together for the second time. But unfortunately, with Irrfan’s demise, we won’t get to see this Vishal Bhardwaj’s film with Deepika and Irrfan as the leads.
