November 3, 2025

The 14th Dharamshala International Film Festival (DIFF 2025) lit up its third day with a blend of soul-touching words and cinematic magic! Veteran actor Adil Hussain held the crowd spellbound with his masterclass titled 'Truth and Acting.' In this intimate session, Hussain delved deep into his rich career, sharing stories from Indian to international cinema. A special moment came when he spoke about the legendary actor Irrfan Khan, his 'Life of Pi' co-star. "If you act from that absolutely honest space, it will be different always. There's one actor who comes to my mind who was like that: Irrfan Khan. He tried his best to do that." Hussain praised Irrfan’s vulnerability and transparency in films like 'Qissa,' 'The Namesake,' and 'Warrior.' The loss of Irrfan hit Hussain hard. "I have never met him properly, we never had conversations about acting or anything with him, but in spite of that, I felt a punch in my heart when he passed. I was surprised the way I felt. 'I was like Oh my god, why am I feeling so sad?'" he shared emotionally. Irrfan Khan died in Mumbai on April 29, 2020, after battling a neuroendocrine tumour, leaving behind a legacy admired worldwide. On the same day, DIFF featured the screening of Hussain’s film 'Secret of a Mountain Serpent,' directed by Nidhi Saxena. Another exciting highlight was the Indian premiere of 'Full Plate,' directed by filmmaker Tannishtha Chatterjee. This powerful drama about a gifted homemaker fighting patriarchy earned roaring applause in the 500-seat venue. Lead actress Kirti Kulhari reflected on the warmth from the audience: "It really means a lot to all of us. Tannishtha couldn't be here, but I am happy that I got to watch the film with all of us." She added, "It is a huge validation for artists when the audience truly gets the film. In fact, sometimes you were laughing so much that I feared what if you missed the other joke! Our hearts are full. It means a lot to us and I am so proud of the film," according to a DIFF press note. The ongoing festival promises even more thrills, set to close on November 2 with Anuparna Roy's Venice winner 'Songs of Forgotten Trees.' The grand finale will also gift fans with an exclusive masterclass by filmmaker Kiran Rao. DIFF 2025 continues to star as India’s brightest beacon for independent cinema and heartfelt stories!

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Tags: Adil Hussain, Irrfan khan, Diff 2025, Dharamshala International Film Festival, Full Plate, Independent Cinema,