The dark side of Imran

Imran Khan has been away from home for a long time. First, he was shooting in South Africa, then he was Namibia. When the actor took time out of his busy schedule to talk to Masala! over the phone from Namibia, we couldn’t help but quiz him on his new found fame, the risk he is taking with a negative role in Kidnap and how he is taking time out for girlfriend Avantika.

How is it shooting in Namibia?

It is very beautiful and sparsely populated. I am shooting here for my film Luck.

Is this the first time a Hindi film is being shot in Namibia?

I don’t think so. As far I know Sanjay Gadhvi shot for Dhoom here.

We heard that while you were shooting in South Africa you were elusive to the press?

It was absolutely the other way round. Except for a couple of journalists, no one actually got in touch with me for any interviews. There were no photographers at the shoot and I don’t think many people recognised me in South Africa.

Do you do get recognised in Mumbai after Jaane Tu...

Since the film released I haven’t got a chance to walk on the streets in Mumbai to find out. I left town immediately for my shoots abroad and have been here since then.

What made you choose a negative role in your very second film, Kidnap?

It’s not really an out and out negative role. Through my role we tend to question the divide between right and wrong, black and white. It depends on the perspective you choose to look at it from.

Your role in Kidnap is very different from Jaane Tu… was it difficult to emote?

I could relate to my character in Jaane Tu... but Kidnap was very, very difficult. It was much tougher and I didn’t feel that level of confidence while doing the role.

So does this mean you are not as confident about Kidnap as you were about Jaane Tu...?

I am very nervous about Kidnap. The audience might like my performance or they might look at me and say, ‘yeah, we know Imran had a very tough time with the role’.

Was it intimidating to have Sanjay Dutt as a co-star?

I was intimidated by him on the first day of shooting. I had to hold a gun and deliver some dialogues and kept fumbling and forgetting the dialogues and the shot had to be taken again and again. He came and gave me a tight hug and all my fears just melted away in the emotion I felt for him.

But people say he is difficult to get along with…

He is a quiet person and shy. He is soft and gentle and doesn’t talk much. Maybe that’s why people misunderstand him.

Now you are working once again with Aamir Khan...

He is producing Delhi Belly and as a producer he keeps his involvement to the minimum, so it would be wrong to say that I am working with him. And he was also the producer of Jaane Tu...so that way I have not worked with him at all!

But is it true that you ousted Ranbir Kapoor from Delhi Belly?

I have no clue why Ranbir is not doing the film. As far I know, I was offered the role initially after the lengthy process of meetings and auditions. But then the dates were clashing with Luck so I couldn’t do the film. Later when the shooting dates were shifted I was given the offer again and I took it up.

What other films are you doing now?

Nothing after Delhi Belly.

Imran impresses

On his look in Kidnap: Director Sanjay Gadvi wanted me to look very hard in the film. He gave his brief to the hairstylist, who came up with the mohawk hairstyle that I have in the film.

On being independent of mamu: I have just one film behind me so I can’t still say I am the next best thing to happen to Bollywood.
On love life: Staying away for long periods from Mumbai is a not a problem since Avantika is travelling with me.

On the fights in Bollywood: Film actors are normal human beings who can fight and make-up too. If they had not been a part of the film industry it would not have been an issue at all.

Imran’s imtehan

Imran Khan has taken up a negative role very early in his career. So he’s scared the audience might find out that he had to put in a lot of effort for
the role.

Anti-heroes in T’town

Many big stars have played the villain before Imran. We list the best...

Aamir Khan: No one can ever forget the hatred in his eyes in the last scene of 1947 Earth.

Shah Rukh Khan: He took a risk with Baazigar with a semi-grey role. The audience hated him in Anjaam but it fetched him the Filmfare Best Villain Award. With Darr, he made history with K-K-Kiran.

Kajol: Her brilliant performance in Gupt got her all the best villain awards that year.

Saif Ali Khan: He’s got plenty of accolades for his anti-hero roles in Ek Hasina Thi and Omkara.

Priyanka Chopra: Not many women would dare to do negative roles so early in their career but Priyanka pulled off her bad-girl role with élan in Aitraaz.