By Subhash K Jha

With two major projects in Hollywood, three Hindi films ready for release this and next month, and two other Hindi films awaiting his attention for completion, Irrfan Khan is currently into the busiest year of his life.

The actor needs serious time-management manoeuvres. Proof?

On Sunday there was panic at the Mumbai airport when Irrfan Khan who was supposed to leave for Lucknow with his director Sudhir Mishra and co-stars Chitrangda Singh and Arunodoy Singh failed to turn up. Apparently Irrfan was untraceable, and the team had to fly out to Lucknow without him.

Explains Mishra, "Irrfan was supposed return from Los Angeles and immediately join us for our flight to Lucknow. But his flight got delayed. He had no choice but to miss Lucknow although it's a city he loves dearly. He very badly wanted to come with us. "

If Irrfan Khan has been conspicuous by his absence from recent publicity events for his new film Yeh Saali Zindagi it is with good reason. Irrfan had to leave for a week-long shooting in LA of Spiderman.

Though Irrfan is not allowed to talk about his role in Spiderman a source reveals that the actor plays the main villain. "It's not a cameo that our actors play in Hollywood biggies and come back bragging about. Irrfan has a full-fledged role in Spiderman.

After shooting in LA he also has to do Ang Lee's Life Of Pi in Taiwan, Pondicherry and Canada. This year he will be shooting extensively in New York and Taiwan when he's needed in India for the promotion of three back-to-back films.

After Yeh Saali Zindagi there is Anees Bazmi's Thank You and Tigmanshu Dhulia's Pan Singh Tomar. "

The question is, how? How will Irrfan balance two continents and six films in one year?

Irrfan Khan admits he is in a time-management crisis, "I'm going through a very hectic time. And I find it hard to cope. "