Vidya Balan revisits 25-year-old Irrfan Khan film, hails actor's 'effortless' craft
Synopsis
After 25 years in the vault, Vidya Balan's long-lost film with Irrfan Khan has surfaced on YouTube. Balan's rediscovery of the footage reignited her admiration for Khan's 'effortless' acting and deepened her regret that other projects pairing them never materialised. The delayed release has become an unexpected archive of their chemistry.
Key Takeaways
Vidya Balan watched The Last Tenant for the first time in 25 years after its recent YouTube release.
The film, co-starring late actor Irrfan Khan , was shot in the late 1990s but shelved for two decades.
Balan praised Khan as "the most natural actor," noting his "never a false note or tone" approach.
The film was shelved during a difficult phase of Balan's career when she was replaced in nearly a dozen projects over three years.
Balan expressed regret that other films pairing her and Khan did not materialise after his death in 2020.
Vidya Balan has finally watched The Last Tenant, her long-shelved film with late actor Irrfan Khan, which has now released on YouTube after 25 years. The rediscovery prompted the Bhool Bhulaiyaa star to reflect on both the film and Khan's unmatched screen presence, describing him as "the most natural actor" she has worked with.
A quarter-century in limbo
The Last Tenant was shot in the late 1990s but never saw theatrical release, joining a string of projects that stalled during a difficult phase of Balan's early career. Her Malayalam debut Chakram was shelved, and she was reportedly replaced in nearly a dozen films over three years. The film languished until director Sarthak Dasgupta recently informed her of its YouTube release.
Balan's rediscovery of Khan's craft
Watching the film last week, Balan found herself transported back to the set, where she had been thrilled to share scenes with Khan. "I remembered calling my sister excitedly from the set to tell her that I was shooting with Irrfan Khan from Banegi Apni Baat," she wrote on social media. "I thought he was the most natural actor then, and I felt the same way last night… never a false note or tone."
A missed opportunity
Since Khan's death in 2020, Balan has expressed regret that other projects pairing the two actors did not materialise. The Last Tenant has thus become a rare archive of their on-screen chemistry. "Since Irrfan's passing, I have rued the fact that a couple of films that would've had us play opposite each other didn't materialize," she noted.
The unexpected reunion
Balan concluded her post with gratitude toward Dasgupta, framing the film's release as a cosmic alignment. "It took 25 years for our stars to align, my fellow Capricorn, #irrfankhan, but they did after all," she wrote, underscoring how the delayed release has paradoxically preserved a collaboration that might otherwise have been entirely forgotten.
Point of View
The film's emergence serves as both a reminder of a lean professional period and an unexpected grace note — a preserved record of Khan's understated brilliance at a time when other collaborations with him will never exist. It underscores how Bollywood's archival practices remain haphazard: films sit in vaults for decades while audiences are left wondering what was lost.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 'The Last Tenant' and why has it taken 25 years to release?
The Last Tenant is a film starring Vidya Balan and Irrfan Khan shot in the late 1990s. It was shelved shortly after production and remained unreleased for 25 years until director Sarthak Dasgupta recently arranged its release on YouTube. The reasons for the original shelving have not been publicly detailed.
When did Vidya Balan first watch the film?
Vidya Balan watched The Last Tenant for the first time in 25 years last week, after receiving a text from director Sarthak Dasgupta informing her of its YouTube release.
What did Vidya Balan say about Irrfan Khan's acting?
Balan described Irrfan Khan as 'the most natural actor' she has worked with, noting that even after 25 years, his performance showed 'never a false note or tone.' She recalled being excited to work with him on set, having admired his earlier work in Banegi Apni Baat.
Did Vidya Balan and Irrfan Khan work together on other projects?
According to Balan, other films pairing the two actors were planned but did not materialise. She expressed regret about this after Khan's death in 2020, making The Last Tenant all the more precious as their only surviving on-screen collaboration.
What was Vidya Balan's career situation when 'The Last Tenant' was shelved?
The film was shelved during a difficult phase of Balan's early career. Her Malayalam debut Chakram was shelved, and she was reportedly replaced in nearly a dozen films over a three-year period, making The Last Tenant one of several projects that did not materialise during that time.
