Bollywood’s new kid on the block Imran Khan, who, despite being written off as a ‘one-film wonder,’ has been trying to prove his level best that he is not after a string of box-office duds following his successful debut stint in Jaane Tu … Ya Jaane Na, finally promised to bring something new to the table with Katti Batti, hitting screens on September 18.
In an interview, Imran talks about his upcoming film, embracing fatherhood, and visiting Pakistan and his friends on this side of the border.
“I signed Katti Batti around the time I found out that my wife Avantika was expecting,” says Imran, who took a hiatus after his stint in the 2013 film Gori Tere Pyaar Mein, which bombed at the box office. He prioritizes family life and adds, “I didn’t want to abandon my wife, especially during her pregnancy. So I took time off from shooting, rehearsals, script readings and everything till Imara was born.” Imran asked Katti Batti director Nikhil Advani to reschedule the shoot after his wife’s delivery. Imran, who was off for almost nine months till 2014, states, “The last phase of [his wife’s] pregnancy was hard and tricky for both of us, but as everything settled down, I went back to shooting.”
Although Imran’s debut film had him touted as the next big thing in Bollywood, he never quite seemed to live up to that expectation. Despite working alongside some of India’s finest filmmakers and actors, such as Kareena Kapoor Khan in Gori Tere… and Anushka Sharma in Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola, he couldn’t garner the applause he strived for. But he never lost faith himself, hoping for a better script to come his way. And so it did in the form of Katti Batti.
Imran sings praises of his Katti Batti co-star, Kangana Ranaut, who has riveted audiences with films such as Queen and Tanu Weds Manu Returns. “I found Kangana to be someone who cares a lot about her work. She’s always willing to explore how to add more depth and authenticity to her character. Her respect for her work is commendable,” he states.
If you’re a true Imran Khan fan, you probably watched his appearance on Kaun Banega Crorepati and how he sang the song Goray Rung ka Zamana by Vital Signs on the show, making known his penchant for Pakistani music and musicians. He’s particularly a fan of Strings duo Faisal Kapadia and Bilal Maqsood, whom he also considers good friends. “I’ve been close to Faisal and Bilal personally. Since I was young, I had a great love for music, and back then, music CDs weren’t readily available, so I used to ask them [Strings] to send their music to me directly,” he shares. As a result, he got to meet them when he was 27. “They’re such cool guys, and we became close friends.”
Faisal and Bilal have invited Imran to Pakistan, which hasn’t materialized yet due to his professional and personal commitments. “Faisal and Bilal have been inviting me for the past two years, and I’ve been so caught up with Avantika, Imara and then the movie that it couldn’t happen. So, visiting Pakistan is long overdue.”
Imran has shared screen space with Pakistan’s rockstar Ali Zafar in the film Mere Brother Ki Dulhan (2011). Sharing his experience working with Ali, who has been earning his acting and singing spurs on both sides of the border, he says, “Ali is hilarious. He has such a great sense of humor. He’s one of those guys who crack jokes to the point that sometimes people don’t even realize he’s joking.”
Grandson of producer Nasir Hussain and nephew of the celebrated Aamir ‘Mr. Perfectionist Khan, Imran holds artists liable for the successful joint ventures between Pakistan and India, including a few projects initiated by Aamir for both countries. “The fact is that artists — actors, musicians and the media fraternity — have done more to [enhance] the Indo-Pak relationship than anyone else. I wish I could somehow further this creative interest,” he states. Expressing his gratitude for the support Pakistanis extend to Bollywood, he says, “I’m humbled and overwhelmed by the love Indian films and actors receive from Pakistan.”
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