/> "No more peripheral roles," says Irrfan Khan

Post Namesake, Metro and A Mighty Heart Irrfan Khan has taken a conscious decision to do only lead roles.

"In Metro the writer and director Anurag Basu gave me the freedom to interpret my character how I wanted. If they hadn't given me this freedom I'd have gone into my shell, as I often do while doing my job."

Sighs Irrfan, "I'm rather tired of being treated as a commodity, to be used as and when other ingredients run dry," he chuckles.

"Now I'll play the lead and play it with the same conviction and credibility that I extend to my supporting roles. Every day I get offers to do supporting parts. I'm still struggling against this kind of casting."

Among the many exciting films that have come to Irrfan is Farhan Akhtar's next. "I'm in serious talks with Farhan for a film that he'll direct next year. It's a period film. Though I've done a 'period-less' film called Warrior I've never done a period film before. And in fact I've been offered another period film—a true-life thriller about a royal Bengali family—by Homi Adjani."

Irrfan is very excited about working with Farhan. " It's a very interesting script about the evolution of the telephone medium as a means of communication. And Farhan will himself direct the film. I'm really excited about that."

Irrfan also plays the lead Anubhav Sinha production. "Anubhav's film is a farce like Jaane Bhi Do Yaadon directed by Pankaj Advani. I love doing comedy. Sometimes life gets funnier than the movies. For example I read this weird report in a daily that I arrive two hours late every day for Rohit Shetty's Sunday.

I've never arrived late in my life. It has taken me twelve years to build my reputation as a professional and an actor.I won't allow anyone to snatch away the glory that has come to me now. I've waited very patiently.

As the veteran director Lekh Tandon has said to me, after Namesake life isn't easy for me. Luckily directors are coming forward with exciting offers."

Irrfan feels pleased when filmmakers desist from taking him for granted. "My friend Aditya Bhattacharya with whom I've completed a comedy called Dubai Returned, offered me a film saying, 'Please say no if you don't want to do it.' I wish other directors would give me the same freedom."