Om Raut might have made a mark in Bollywood with films like Tanhaji, Adipurush, and now Inspector Zende, started his journey as a child actor.
While many might not be aware that he played the main lead in a children’s film titled Karamati Coat (The Miraculous Coat) which released in 1993, something worth taking note is that it also starred Irrfan Khan.
Karamati Coat happened in the early years of both Om and Irrfan. Now, after more than three decades, Om, on the sidelines of promoting his latest production Inspector Zende starring Manoj Bajpayee, opened up about working with Irrfan in the old movie.
Om Raut looks back at working with Irrfan Khan
Om said in an interview with Filmigyan, “I did a film as a child actor called Karamati Coat (1993). I played the lead boy who finds a miraculous coat. That was also Irrfan Khan’s first film. He had a small role, but I still remember, and he wasn’t THE Irrfan Khan he went on to become. But he used to come on the set as a big actor.”
Om looked back at how Irrfan, despite starting off in the film industry, had that big star aura around him that reflected as soon as he came on the set. “I remember a scene we were shooting in Parel, and there was a path. The camera was placed at a distance. Though I wasn’t in the shot, I was there on set, sitting on the side. Irrfan bhai came from the other side and crossed the road, which was at a different level. It was mesmerising, even though it was a small appearance, it was of top quality,” the filmmaker said.
Om added that he regrets for not getting a chance to direct the late actor who passed away in 2020 after battling cancer. “I’m too small to even comment on what he was. I got an opportunity to work with him as an actor. Had I got the opportunity to work with him as a director, it would’ve been my privilege. But destiny was something else,” Om said on an emotional note.
About Karamati Coat
Karamati Coat follows the story of Raghu, a poor school kid who gets a magical red coat from a stranger. Whenever Raghu puts his hand in the coat’s pocket, a rupee coin appears. The endless supply of money gives him moments of happiness as he spends it to have a good time with his friends. But his secret soon gets discovered by some boys, and even his brother-in-law discovers who try to steal it. In the quest to protect his coat, Raghu realises that nothing comes easy in life and everything needs to be earned, even money.