Archive · 16 Sep 2026
Meghna Gulzar Recalls Collaborations With Irrfan, Kareena and Others
Director Meghna Gulzar talked about the actors she has worked with in several films.
She said Irrfan Khan was so effective in Talvar that she barely needed to direct him.
She described Vicky Kaushal as someone who understands her instructions very quickly.
She called Deepika Padukone a thoughtful actor who looks for hidden details in a role.
Meghna said Alia Bhatt’s energy and spontaneity were strengths, although Alia sometimes hurt herself while filming Raazi.
She found Tabu’s seniority made directing her more difficult.
She said Sushmita Sen was easy to work with because she was straightforward.
Meghna also praised Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran for improving their Daayra characters beyond what she had written.
Meghna Gulzar said Irrfan Khan required little direction while making Talvar and that his performance made her look good.
She described Vicky Kaushal as having an almost telepathic connection with her after working together on Raazi and Sam Bahadur.
Gulzar praised Deepika Padukone’s depth, called Alia Bhatt spontaneous, and said that spontaneity sometimes led to injuries on Raazi.
She said working with senior actor Tabu was challenging because of Tabu’s experience, while Sushmita Sen required no difficult adjustments.
Gulzar said Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran needed little instruction on Daayra and exceeded her written interpretations.
- Who
- Director Meghna Gulzar, along with discussions of actors including Irrfan Khan, Vicky Kaushal, Deepika Padukone, Alia Bhatt, Tabu, Sushmita Sen, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran.
- What
- Gulzar discussed the strengths and challenges of working with actors across her films and on the upcoming film Daayra.
- When
- During a recent edition of The Indian Express’s Expresso series; the article does not provide an exact date.
- Where
- At Taj Lands End in Mumbai.
- Why
- She was discussing her past collaborations, her current work on Daayra, and what she learned about audiences from her films.
- Event
- The 16th edition of The Indian Express’s Expresso series
- Participant
- Meghna Gulzar
- Upcoming film
- Daayra
- Daayra cast discussed
- Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran
- Film involving Irrfan Khan
- Talvar
- Films involving Vicky Kaushal
- Raazi and Sam Bahadur
- Venue
- Taj Lands End, Mumbai