Q. How easy was it to convince you to do Katti Batti?
Imran: On this one I really troubled Nikhil a lot. First time I read the script, I had not got the tone of it. I completely missed it. So I called up Nikhil and told him yaar mujhe bilkul achi nahi lagi, lets find something else to work on in the future. Basically it’s like approach other actors, mujhe nahi karni hai. Nikhil was like “What do you mean you have not understood it, main narrate karunga”, I was like yaar narrate karke kya hoga, wahi script hai na maine padh liya hai. But he was like “no you are not understanding.” So I said, ok call me after two months, which again is a code for nahi karna hai.
So I thought he will take a hint but one month later he again called, so I was like arre yaar, give me time I am busy, I kept delaying and pushing it. Finally it got to a point yaar ye banda toh mera peecha hi nahi chodh raha hai, I have to hear his narration just out of politeness. So I said, ok meet me tomorrow.
So he came and started narrating and suddenly after twenty minutes I am sitting and thinking is it the same script that I read? Because when I was reading it, I was not plugging into it but when he is telling it to me suddenly the characters and the relationship was jumping off the page. I found myself looking at those moments between and Maddy and Payal and thinking I have been in this situation.
I have had exactly this kind of fight with Avantika and our make-up has been exactly the same. This kept happening throughout, it kept resonating with my personal life. So by the time it ended I was like yaar, sorry mujhse galti ho gayi, I missed your point entirely. I was not seeing it the way you were seeing it. I saw the tone of the characters in a very clichéd way and Nikhil’s entire vision for it was completely different.
Q. Now being a father, has your way of choosing a script changed?
Imran: It has changed in a sense. My priority now has become about doing work that I enjoy, because I spend six-eight months on a film. I get money, if the film is a hit well and good, if the film is a failure and if I have not enjoyed making the film, why am I wasting my time over there? I am spending six-eight months away from my wife, away from my daughter, away from my friends doing work that I am not happy with, with people I am not happy with, that to me is wasting time.
Like Gori Tere Pyar Mein is a great example. Gori... failed as a film, but Puneet is such a dear friend of mine, Kareena is someone who I enjoy working with so much that the film is not a loss for me, it’s not a waste. I have enjoyed the process, so what if the film didn’t work?
Break Ke Baad again the film failed, but it was one of the most enjoyable working experiences of my entire career. That film has a very special place in my heart. That’s what I want to do.
Q. Anyone in the Industry you had a Katti (fight) with and want to do Batti (patch up) with?
Imran: Haan, Ekta ke saath Katti hui thi ab Batti ho gaya, which I am glad of. At that point, we had had many many differences of opinion and I think the fight was natural. After that once we both calmed down and we both spoke face to face. I feel now we have greater respect between the two of us.
Q. How do you balance your life between your career and your personal life?
Imran: In the past year, I have done only Katti Batti. I have not taken any film after this. Once we finished shooting, I went on vacation with my wife and daughter for six weeks, I put my phone off, I was not reachable to anyone. For me, I am happy to work that way because by the time we finished I knew I made a film I like.
Q. Now that you are a father, will you mind doing ‘Adult’ rated films like Delhi Belly?
Imran: Of course not, I would be very proud for her to watch Delhi Belly one day, because that is a film that is closest to my personal artistic sensibilities.
If I start working thinking that I will only do films, that my daughter will watch, then I am not being honest as a creative person and honestly I won’t be able to show my face to her. I want her to look at every choice I make, every decision that I have ever taken and be able to defend that and say this is the reason I said this, this is the reason I said that and if the reason is dishonest, how will I face her?
Q. Aamir was reportedly in tears after watching Katti Batti, what did he tell you after watching the film?
Imran: He really liked it. See, he has only seen two films of mine, Jaane Tu... and Delhi Belly, which were both his home productions. Honestly, till date I have never felt that I have done such great work that I can show him. As a family we hold ourselves and hold each other at very very high standards.
This was the first time I felt confident about the film, confident about my work, confident enough to show him the film and take an opinion that I have done this film, what do you think?
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