Exclusive: Jaideep Ahlawat recalls dedicating his first Filmfare Award to Irrfan Khan

In the recent Stars React episode, Jaideep Ahlawat talked about the time he dedicated his first Filmfare OTT award to late actor Irrfan Khan. For context, Irrfan had won Best Actor in a Drama Series (Male) at the Filmfare OTT Awards back in 2020. Jaideep was asked if he had planned to dedicate the award to Irrfan or if it just happened in the moment. He simply said, “No, it just came. It just came to be organically…”

He then shared why it was such an emotional time for him. “You have been in the city for many years, okay. And you have been working as well. Whatever work you got, whatever kind of work you got, it was okay that you got appreciation for it. But after season 1, all the calls I got, it was a little overwhelming for me.”

He remembered how special it felt when actor Manoj Bajpayee called him. “Like Manoj bhai called me and I remember he called me in the evening like 9:00-9:30ish. And he was talking to me for like next 20-25 minutes. And the moment he cut the call, I started crying. Because it was something very important to feel that way that people who you always admire, you know, admired and still admire in terms of actors and filmmakers and storytellers. And when they call you, you feel accepted.”

Talking about Irrfan, Jaideep said he had always loved his work. “So, and I, including me, there are so many people. I have always been, you know, I was in love with Irfan sir’s work.” He also shared how much he wished Irrfan was around to see his win. “So, I was waiting for this for a long time. I don’t know why it was stuck in my mind that something, 29th April, 15th May. It was just a matter of less than 20 days. And I always used to say that if he was there, I would have got at least one call. So, I think it was Malal at that time. And he left at that particular moment.”

For context , Irfaan Khan passed away on 29 April, 2020 and Paatal Lok’s first episode released on 15 May, 2020.

Jaideep had won Best Actor at the first ever Filmfare OTT Awards in 2020 for Paatal Lok. In 2024, he won Best Actor (Critics) for Jaane Jaan and Best Supporting Actor for Maharaj.

Also Read: Varun, Rajkummar and Vicky laud Jaideep Ahlawat’s performance in Paatal Lok