Originally, a documentary wasn&rsquo;t a part of the plan. Director <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/bollywood-news/article/ajay-devgn-joins-hands-with-tigmanshu-dhulia-and-priti-sinha-for-film-based-on-first-dalit-cricketer-palwankar-baloo-23352858" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">Tigmanshu Dhulia</a> had hired Ranjeeta Kaur only to shoot the behind-the-scenes footage of Paan Singh Tomar (2012). She, in turn, suggested that they turn it into a documentary. The result &mdash; A Story That Refused to Die, which examines one of Hindi cinema&rsquo;s most honest performances: Irrfan as Paan Singh Tomar.
<img title="(L-R) The actor with director Tigmanshu Dhulia. Picture Courtesy/PR" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/apr/Irrfan-Paan-Singh-pr_e.jpg" alt="(L-R) The actor with director Tigmanshu Dhulia. Picture Courtesy/PR" width="1280" height="720" />(L-R) The actor with director Tigmanshu Dhulia. Picture Courtesy/PR
The documentary is set to premi&egrave;re at the <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/celebrity-life/weddings-and-relationships/article/arjun-tendulkar-saaniya-chandhok-pre-wedding-festivities-in-jamnagar-ambani-23618319" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">Nita Mukesh Ambani</a> Cultural Centre in Bandra on April 29, remembering the late actor on his sixth death anniversary. Proud as Kaur is to have helmed it, it also comes with regret. The actor never watched the creation. Kaur recalled, &ldquo;I had sent him a DVD because he was travelling, but to my knowledge, he never saw it. Tigmanshu sir and his family saw it.&rdquo;
<img title="Pic/AFP" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/apr/afp-ifa_e.jpg" alt="Pic/AFP" width="1280" height="720" />Pic/AFP
A Story That Refused to Die comes 14 years after Paan Singh Tomar&rsquo;s release, after facing hurdles of lost footage, crashed hard drives, and more. To her, one sequence in the docu remains special, in which the actor explains how he approached the scene where the lead meets his son. &ldquo;When you watch that, it stirs something inside you. From an art point of view, you want to know how <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/bollywood-news/article/babil-khan-shares-candid-pictures-of-irrfan-khan-and-sutapa-sikdar-at-home-23626144" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">Irrfan </a>sir did that,&rdquo; she said.
<img title="Irrfan with Ranjeeta Kaur. Pic/By Special Arrangement" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/apr/irha-ranjee_e.jpg" alt="Irrfan with Ranjeeta Kaur. Pic/By Special Arrangement" width="1280" height="720" /> Irrfan with Ranjeeta Kaur. Pic/By Special Arrangement
What, according to her, made Irrfan such an extraordinary artiste? She reflected, &ldquo;He was curious and valued existence. He wanted to know more &mdash; about himself, people, and their psychology. He&rsquo;d bring his consciousness to his character.&rdquo; What made him unforgettable was that it didn&rsquo;t come wrapped in self-importance. &ldquo;He loved laughing. It was never, &lsquo;Look at me, I&rsquo;m so serious about my art&rsquo;.&rdquo;
April 29 When the docu will premi&egrave;re at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre&nbsp;

Director Ranjeeta Kaur, whose ‘A Story That Refused to Die’ chronicles ‘Paan Singh Tomar’ making, regrets that Irrfan was unable to watch her creation even afte

Ranjeeta Kaur says Irrfan Khan never watched documentary on Paan Singh Tomar

Hits no longer ghosting Akki!

Director Ranjeeta Kaur, whose ‘A Story That Refused to Die’ chronicles ‘Paan Singh Tomar’ making, regrets that Irrfan was unable to watch her creation even after she sent it to him

‘Irrfan sir never saw the documentary’

Trending Stories

Latest Photos

Latest Videos

Latest Web Stories

Mid-Day Fast

Home / Entertainment / Bollywood News / Article / ‘Irrfan sir never saw the documentary’