“I am in love with her. Madly in love with her. Passionately in love with her,” says actor Irfan Khan about his character Saleem Rajabali in Naseeruddin Shah’s directorial debut ‘Yun Hota Toh Kya Hota’ that released last week. Irfan is a younger man who indulges in a lustful relationship with a much older Suhasini Mulay.

He also has a full-on kissing and love making scene with theatre actress Mulay who distinguished herself by playing Aamir Khan’s mother in ‘Lagaan’. How does he rate Naseer as a director? “First rate. Innovative. And it would be a loss for the film world if he doesn’t direct another film,” says Khan who has a miniscule role in Yun Hota…And Shah himself admits that not giving more flesh to Irfan’s role was one of his failings as a director.

Irfan earned lots of bouquets-of-congratulations for his deadly act in Mahesh Bhatt’s ‘The Killer’ where he stalks the life of a taxi driver (Emran Hashmi) while going on a trip of professional killings. “Job is Job…Kya Karein,” he says with a dead pan expression during the course of the film. His sinister singing session at the climax was a thrilling experience and his one liners were a pleasure.

‘The Killer’ has been criticized for being a rip-off of Hollywood’s ‘Collateral’ but almost all the critics have written good things about the film after giving it one and a half or two stars. I enjoyed the trip and I am sure considering its low cost, the Bhatt Camp must have recovered their cost after the first weekend itself. Whatever follows will be a profit. Before winding up on Irfan Khan, here’s a final byte from the man himself. Does Irfan Khan aspire for a national Award? “Nah…I don’t aspire for any awards,” he says with a shrug-n-smile.