Not Abhay Deol but Irrfan Khan was the first choice for Manorama Six Feet Under?

Manorama Six Feet Under, starring Abhay Deol and Gul Panag, became a cult film over time and completed 17 years today.

Irrfan Khan Was The OG Choice For Manorama Six Feet Under?

If there is one actor whose passing left a void felt by the entire country and the world at large in recent times, it has to be Irrfan Khan. The actor, who passed away in April 2020, was known for some of the most epic movies, delivering performances that will be remembered forever. Over the years, it has emerged that Khan passed on certain roles that have since become trivia for fans. One such movie, which is now a cult classic and initially had Irrfan as the first choice, was Manorama Six Feet Under. Yes, you read that right—Khan was the original pick for Abhay Deol's much-celebrated role in Navdeep Singh's directorial debut, but things didn’t work out.

Irrfan Khan Was the Original Choice?

Manorama Six Feet Under currently streaming in India on Lionsgate Play, was released back in 2007. The film stars Abhay Deol, Jogiji Brijendra Kale, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Gul Panag, Vinay Pathak, Sarika, and Raima Sen. As the movie marks 17 years since its release, director Navdeep Singh has revealed that there was an earlier version of the film with Irrfan Khan in the lead, but it never materialized. Read on to learn more.

Navdeep Singh, in an interview with Zoom opened up about Manorama Six Feet Under. While the film was praised for its subject by a niche audience, it has since gained cult status. Singh revealed that Irrfan was originally set to star in the movie. “An earlier incarnation with Irrfan Khan as the lead never took off. Thanks to Abhay Deol, it finally happened. The producers wanted to do something with him, and it happened quite quickly once he came on board,” Singh said.

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About Manorama Six Feet Under

Manorama Six Feet Under tells the story of a wannabe crime writer who works as a junior government engineer. He gets the chance to play detective when a politician’s wife asks him to spy on her husband. The film was praised for its performances and unconventional writing, but it didn’t perform well at the box office. However, over the years, it has found a new audience on streaming platforms, and viewers have come to appreciate the depth of its subject matter and storytelling.

Director Navdeep Singh reflected on the film's enduring appeal, saying, “It’s a miracle that Manorama still has relevance after all these years. It was a tiny film that nobody really watched in theatres but somehow got a new lease of life in digital.” He further added, “It was a passion project for a lot of the people involved—the crew, the actors—and I think that passion reflects on the screen.”

You can watch Manorama Six Feet Under on Lionsgate Play with your OTTplay Premium subscription. Stay tuned to OTTplay for more updates on this and other news from the world of streaming and films.

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