Irrfan Khan, Vidya Balan Unreleased Film ‘The Last Tenant’ Releases on YouTube After 25 Years

A remarkable piece of cinema history has resurfaced with the silent release of the unreleased The Last Tenant, shot almost 25 years ago, on YouTube, starring a young Irrfan Khan and Vidya Balan. Written and directed by Sarthak Dasgupta and produced by Neena and Sarthak Dasgupta, the film was released as a tribute to Irrfan Khan on his death anniversary, adding a layer of poignancy to the long-awaited release.

Believed to be among Vidya Balan’s early works and possibly her first film after her short career in TV, The Last Tenant is the only film in which she and Irrfan Khan collaborated on the big screen.

The film remained shelved for over two decades as Sarthak lost the footage of the film while awaiting its release, until recently he came across a VHS copy of the same. This is also Sarthak’s debut film. After completing his engineering and MBA education, he decided to quit his corporate job and become a filmmaker. Later, Sarthak went on to make films like Netflix original ‘Music Teacher’, Amol Palekar and Rinku Rajguru starrer ‘200 Halla Ho’ and create Web Series like ‘Dharavi Bank’ and others.

Now available to audiences around the world, the film offers a fascinating look at the formative years of two actors who would redefine performance in Indian cinema. Even in its raw and unpolished state, viewers can watch the beginnings of Irrfan’s signature restraint and Vidya’s engaging screen presence.

Reflecting on the long journey leading up to the film’s release, director Sarthak Dasgupta said, “I was a novice who knew everything there was to learn. I didn’t help anyone. I hadn’t gone to film school. There was no Amazon to order books from. There was no YouTube to watch lectures. I had embarked on a journey fueled by pure intuition, still unsure if it could turn into a career. Releasing this film now, as a tribute to Irrfan, makes the film even more emotional. It feels like revisiting a forgotten dream.”

Vidya Balan also stated that she felt a deep nostalgia with the release of the film. “It’s surreal to see The Last Tenant finally reach audiences. I was just starting out, trying to find my feet… Working with Irrfan back then was incredibly special and even more so now considering it was the only time I got to share screen space with him. This film is a beautiful reminder of where it all started for me and I’m happy it’s been shared as a tribute to him”.

The film is based on Sarthak’s company ‘The Salt Inc.’ It was released under his auspices. Within 3 days of the film’s release, the number of views on YouTube reached almost 2 Lacs. For Irrfan Khan fans, this release carries additional emotional weight. Celebrating the anniversary of his death, The Last Tenant becomes much more than a reinvented film; is a heartfelt tribute to an actor whose legacy continues to resonate deeply.