In his almost three-decade-long career, he has established himself as one of the most dependable performers. But, Irrfan Khan said he is always trying to redefine the labels attached to him.
The 50-year-old actor said it does not matter to him whether he is called an actor or a star. "If you are unable to innovate, then you are as good as dead. I'm here to redefine things and whatever I'll be called, I will redefine it," Irrfan told.
He also mentioned that acting has always been a passion for him. This is why he has this constant need to look for something new. "It is the need to constantly innovate oneself and it comes from the fact that it keeps you on your toes, it keeps you alive," he added.
Starting from Mira Nair's 'Salaam Bombay!' to 'Inferno', the National Award-winning actor has built an impressive body of work in the Indian industry as well as in Hollywood. But, Irrfan said he still struggles to conform to the norms as an artiste. "We are social beings, we always try to fit in. I'm still trying to fit in. As you grow up, you are conditioned to carry yourself in a certain way. You have demands from your own self. I was not cut out to be an actor. I was the last person who could become an actor. If I told people I wanted to be an actor, they would have killed me. I couldn't even share it," said Irrfan.
He believes a person always has a choice either to mould oneself according to the social norms or stand out from the crowd. "It depends on what you want. Sometimes you don't want to stand out. That's your call. If you need to stand out, then you find the means to do so," he concluded.