A forgotten film from nearly 25 years ago has finally been released on YouTube, bringing back a special piece of cinema history for audiences. The Last Tenant, starring a young Irrfan Khan and Vidya Balan, was quietly released as a tribute to Irrfan Khan on his death anniversary. The film has been written and directed by Sarthak Dasgupta and produced by Neena and Sarthak Dasgupta, making its release even more emotional after such a long wait.
The film is believed to be one of Vidya Balan’s earliest acting projects and possibly her very first film after her short stint on television. It is also the only film in which Vidya Balan and Irrfan Khan shared screen space together.
The movie remained unreleased for more than two decades. While waiting to find a platform for release, Sarthak Dasgupta had lost the original footage of the film. Recently, however, he found a VHS copy, which finally made the release possible. This was also Sarthak’s first film as a director. At the time, he had just left his corporate job after completing his Engineering and MBA studies and decided to follow his passion for filmmaking. He later went on to direct projects like the Netflix film Music Teacher, 200 Halla Ho starring Amol Palekar and Rinku Rajguru, along with web series such as Dharavi Bank.
Now available for audiences across the world, The Last Tenant gives viewers a rare glimpse into the early days of two actors who later became some of the finest performers in Indian cinema. Even in its raw and unpolished form, the film shows early signs of Irrfan Khan’s subtle acting style and Vidya Balan’s powerful screen presence.
Reflecting on the film’s long journey to release, director Sarthak Dasgupta said, “I was a novice with everything to learn. I hadn’t assisted anyone. I hadn’t been to film school. There was no Amazon to order books from. No YouTube to watch tutorials on. Fuelled by pure intuition, I had embarked on a journey, still unsure if it could become a career. Releasing this film now, as a tribute to Irrfan, makes it even more emotional. It feels like revisiting a forgotten dream.”
Vidya Balan also shared her emotions about finally seeing the film released. “It feels surreal to see The Last Tenant finally reach audiences. I was just starting out, trying to find my footing…Working with Irrfan was incredibly special then and that much more now considering its the only time i got to share screen space with him. This film is a beautiful reminder of where it all began for me, and I’m glad it is being shared as a tribute to him”.
The film has been released under Sarthak Dasgupta’s company, The Salt Inc.. Within just three days of release, the film’s views on YouTube have nearly touched two lakh. For fans of Irrfan Khan, the release of The Last Tenant is not just about discovering an old film. It is also a heartfelt tribute to an actor whose work and legacy continue to leave a deep impact on audiences everywhere.