A Story That Refused To Die: Documentary on Irrfan Khan’s Paan Singh Tomar journey to premiere today

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Mumbai: On the sixth death anniversary of Irrfan Khan, a special 47-minute documentary titled A Story That Refused To Die is set to be screened in Mumbai. The film pays tribute to the actor’s legacy by revisiting the making of his acclaimed film Paan Singh Tomar.

A Story That Refused To Die

The documentary, to be screened at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC), features rare and previously unseen footage from the sets of the 2010 film. Directed by Ranjeeta Kaur, the documentary brings together material that was nearly lost, offering an intimate look into Irrfan’s craft.

The documentary will premiere on April 29, 2026, at NMACC- The Studio, followed by a panel discussion featuring Tigmanshu Dhulia and Vishal Bhardwaj, moderated by Saurabh Dwivedi.

A Story That Refused To Die trailer

Paan Singh Tomar‘s director, Tigmanshu Dhulia, who unveiled the documentary’s trailer earlier this month, described the project as a celebration of Irrfan’s work. He wrote, “Celebrating Irrfan through A Story That Refused to Die, a documentary capturing the incredible journey of making Paan Singh Tomar. With nearly lost footage, it screens for the first time after 14 years at NMACC on 29th April 2026, 8 PM.”

The trailer opens with the line, “A film that stirred souls. A performance etched in time,” setting the tone for the tribute.

Dhulia reflected on the film’s beginnings, saying, “I did not have a script in the beginning. I only had this newspaper article and this idea and this passion to make this film.”

He also shared concerns during filming, stating, “Sabse bada darr yahi laga rehta tha ki agar Irrfan ko hi uthaa liya kisine. Kaun dekhega picture? (The biggest fear was always that someone might actually abduct Irrfan himself. Then who would watch the film?).”

Irrfan, in archival footage, said, “I came to know that it’s asking much more from me than what I expected. I am really fortunate that we could live a story which was lying, not even in our memories, but in our consciousness. Which we heard some time back, but it was not ready to die down.”

Triutes pour in

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting paid tribute to legendary actor Irrfan Khan on his death anniversary. “Paying tribute to legendary actor Irrfan Khan, whose authenticity and craft elevated Indian cinema and earned admiration across the world,” Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said in a tweet on X.

 

AIR tweeted, “Paying tribute to legendary actor Irrfan Khan, whose authenticity and craft elevated Indian cinema and earned admiration across the world.”

Dharma Productions posted, “Remembering a true artist, a true emotion when he’s on screen – Irrfan Khan!”

IIFA wrote, “Remembering Irrfan Khan on his death anniversary. A legend who made every moment on screen unforgettable, leaving a legacy that continues to shine.”