Imran Khan the next Bollywood star
In 2007, it was surprise from Himesh Reshammiya. This year, Imran Khan is the surprise package of Bollywood. Nephew of talented actor, Aamir Khan, Imran Khan stormed the box office with his debut movie, Jaane Tu. . . .Ya Jaane Na. His portrayal of Jai Singh Rathod aka ‘Rats’ not only turned him into the latest heartthrob but also received critical appreciation as well. No doubt, he will sweep up all the best debutante awards of 2008.
Imran Khan was born on January 13, 1983 to Anil Pal and Nuzhat Khan. Anil Pal was Mansoor Khan’s classmate in Bombay IIT where he and Nuzhat met and got married. When Imran Khan was one and half years old, his parents got divorced. Since then, Imran Khan lived with his mother. Imran Khan studied at Bombay Scottish School in Mumbai.
Imran Khan Trivia:
- Imran Khan’s real name is Imran Khan Pal. His father, Anil Pal is a Bengali, who works as a senior manager at Yahoo in USA. Imran Khan’s parents got divorced when he was one and half years old. Imran Khan attended high school at California, USA and then went to study film making in New York.
- Imran Khan is actor Aamir Khan’s nephew.
- Imran Khan loves to eat and he hates to go to the gym.
- Imran Khan enjoys cooking very much. He believes that cooking is therapeutic. His favorite dish is dal tadka and rice.
- Imran Khan has been through three/four relationships. Currently, he is dating Avantika Mallik, ex-girlfriend of Ranbir Kapoor. Rumor spread out that the two broke up.
- Imran Khan started his acting career as a child artist. He appeared in two movies of Aamir Khan, Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak and Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander. In both these movies, he played the character of child Aamir Khan. During these two movies, every time Imran Khan walked into the sets, Aamir Khan used to do his make up.
- Though he wanted to become a director, Imran Khan ended up in actor’s circuit. He launched his career as an adult actor with Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na. The movie was produced by his uncle Aamir Khan and it went on to become the surprise hit of 2008.
- Imran Khan loved the character of Jai Singh Rathod, the innocent college going boy who always refrain from violence. Many people think that Aamir Khan is Imran Khan’s god father in Bollywood but that is not true actually. Imran Khan even had a hard time convincing his uncle. He auditioned for the role three times and then Aamir Khan was convinced.
- After Jaane Tu….Ya Jaane Na was released, Imran Khan went to South Africa for shooting. During his two weeks stay in South Africa, he was followed by a huge crowd every where he went. He was very much surprised to see that suddenly people want to touch him and take pictures with him. He said:
- suddenly people will turn up saying, “I have a great plan for your money sir, for your future, for your career, for your life…” And suddenly, the phone wouldn’t stop ringing etc. I had a bit of freak out actually. I put the phone off and I just didn’t put it on. I said, “Ok I am not using the phone, I am not going to talk to anyone, I am not going to pick up any calls…so ya, I actually freaked out!
- After Jaane Tu….Ya Jaane Na became successful, Imran Khan received around 20-30 endorsement offers but he did not accept one. He said:
Because I really didn’t want to do them. So much money just to go somewhere and hold something and then take money for it ….I don’t know why…sleazy is the word…it feels like that …it doesn’t feel clean.
- To play the character of a mean kidnapper, Kabir, in Kidnap Hindi movie, Imran Khan had to shade off the cute boy look. He donned a new hairstyle coupled with stubbled face to get a rugged look.
- Imran Khan had to go to the gym to grow some muscles for portraying the character of a kidnapper in Kidnap Hindi movie. He also received three week’s intensive training for parkour, a special movement style that incorporates both martial arts and gymnastics. In the trailer, Imran Khan can be seen jumping from the rooftop of a twenty story building which is done by parkour. Imran Khan had to train eight to six hours per day because they brought a trainer from London and he was charging per day and it was quite expensive. After the grueling training session, Imran Khan could not even walk.
- During the shooting of Kidnap Hindi movie, Sanjay Dutt was concerned about Imran Khan’s safety when he saw Imran Khan jumping from a twenty story building. He called Aamir Khan to stop him from doing the stunt and use a body double. Imran said:
“Baba spotted my stunt double on the ground. He asked the producer, ‘If the double’s here then who’s up there?’ When he learned it was me, he fired the production guys. Then he called up Maamu and told him to stop me from doing dangerous stuff. By that time, I had finished the scene!”
- Imran Khan’s next movie is Luck. In the movie, Imran Khan is starring opposite Shruti Haasan, daughter of famous South Indian actor, Kamal Haasan. Sanjay Dutt, who worked with Imran Khan in Kidnap Hindi movie, will also star in this movie. He will play the character of a Don. Luck will be released in the middle of 2009.
- After the two high octane action movies, Imran Khan will switch back to movies on lighter and easier subjects where he would not have to do scary stunts. His next movie is Delhi Belly, which is also an Aamir Khan production.
- Though Aamir Khan plays the role of Imran Khan’s guardian but he is not in control of Imran Khan’s life. Aamir Khan does not know that Imran Khan signed Luck. He almost finished the movie and Aamir Khan does not know. Imran Khan says:
“He has his own career to mind, and Maamu’s always believed that you have to make your own mistakes and learn from them and your successes should be your own. If all my successes are due to him, then I won’t enjoy them.”
- To shoot his upcoming movie, Luck, Imran Khan went to Namibia. The crew could not shoot due to an ongoing transport strike. Though the strike was declared to be illegal, transport union threatened to shoot anyone who would report to work. Every day, the producer used to wait on the railway track. The crew will shoot again in December. Luck is an action flick.
- To portray his character in Delhi Belly, a comedy movie, Imran Khan is under going six hours of acting rehearsal every day.
Imran Khan quotable quotes:
- “under the pressure of bagging an even bigger hit with Kidnap. Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na (JTYJN) was a surprise hit. But its remarkable success has doubled the pressure for me. When I came in JTYJN, I was on a clean slate, but now people will be able to compare me with my last performance, which means – my this film has to be better than the last. It’s a tall order, you see!” (Times of India)
- “The contrast in films was never a bother. I really liked the idea of stretching myself. I know there’s this convention that you don’t attempt something like this, a grey character, so early in your career. But conventions don’t bind me. I take my own decisions. I believe, if you don’t make a mistake, it’s your own mistake to make.”(Times of India) about his role in Kidnap Hindi movie.
- own decisions” he means it. For then, even maamu Aamir Khan has no say in it. “I don’t consult maamu at all. In fact, the film that I’ve just completed Luck, maamu doesn’t even know the story of it. He’s never met its director or producer. He knows nothing about it. He’s busy with his own career and I have my own.” (Times of India) talking about Aamir Khan being his god father.
- “Though I definitely will, I have no timeline set for it. Right now I have some very exciting work as an actor which is keeping me very engaged and interested.” (Times of India) about directing a movie.
- “Mmm, yeah I’m not a great dancer. But I’ve been working on it and have become slaaa..ightly better. Still, I don’t think I’m ever going to be as good as the likes of Hrithik or Shahid. These guys are like – unbelievable!” (Times of India)
- “It feels great. More when you see people being genuinely happy because of something you’ve done. But people don’t call me Jai, though they’d still want to come up and tell me how much they enjoyed the film. But there’s no hangover for me as such. I’m almost on my fourth film now.” (Times of India) Imran Khan talking about the popularity of his character in Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na.
- “doesn’t scare me or my girlfriend Avantika a bit either. We know how much truth there is to such stories. It’s very obvious what’s made up and what’s genuine. So Avantika is the least affected.”(Times of India) Imran Khan talking about rumors affecting his relationship with his girlfriend.
- “I’m given better service at restaurants, I get tables as soon as I enter, there are a lot of waiters hanging around willing to take my orders. I get invited to a lot of parties. Lots of people want to give me money for various things.” But even as he shares the after effects of his success, he adds with disarming ease, “But I accept nothing.” (Times of India) Imran Khan talking about what happened after Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na.
- I’m very proud of Aamir. It might sound as if I’m bragging when I say he is the best, but if there is anyone who can bag the Oscars for India now, it has to be Aamir. Unfortunately, there is no mobile network in Ladakh where he is shooting for Raju Hirani now. Hence, I haven’t been able to speak to him yet. I’ve been away from home for long, while shooting in South Africa. I haven’t celebrated the success of Jaane Tu… My schedule is such that I don’t even find the time to meet my mom though we live in the same house! (Times of India)
Imran Khan Interviews:
First interview:
This interview was published in IBN Live. Imran Khan talks about Kidnap Hindi movie. Imran Khan took the movie, because he liked the script. He could relate himself with it. Secondly, he wanted to work with Sanjay Gadhvi. Imran Khan watched Dhoom and Dhoom 2 and he liked the movies. Finally, he got the opportunity to work with Sanjay Dutt.
When asked about his working experience with Sanjay Dutt, Imran Khan said:
My first day of shooting was with him and it was nerve racking to say the least. I was so nervous, we had to give a couple of takes and I went up to him and apologised saying “I’m sorry sir, I keep messing up, it’s just that I’m very nervous,” to which he responded with a bone crunching hug and replied,”chill bro, I’m here for you.” It’s just, during the shot when he used to say his line, I used to look into his eyes and drift off.
Second interview:
This interview was published in Times of India. After Imran Khan came to know about Aamir Khan’s Taare Zameen Par has been chosen for India’s official entry to the Oscar, he said he was very proud for Aamir Khan. It might sound he is bragging but Imran Khan believes that if someone from India deserves to bag the Oscar then it is definitely Aamir Khan.
Aamir Khan does not usually attend award functions. Imran Khan said that his uncle has attended few functions. He said that Aamir Khan has always been present at the National Awards function. Aamir Khan even attended Oscars after Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India was submitted to the Oscars in 2001. It is a record in India that any Indian production house has two consecutive movies being nominated for the Oscars.
Regarding his character’s motive in Kidnap Hindi movie, Imran Khan said that money is not the main motive in Kidnap Hindi movie. This makes the movie more menacing and complex.
Imran Khan further said that the main focus of Kidnap Hindi movie is the “examination of morality.” People must consider the circumstances in which a particular person acts. He further says:
The judicial system often tends to take the wrong view of crime. It’s more interested in punishing than reforming criminals. Life sentence is fine for criminals by profession.
Third interview:
This interview was published in NDTV. Imran Khan shares his view about acting and life and his experience as an actor in Hindi movies so far. In Kidnap Hindi movie, he played a character totally opposite his debut movie’s “Jay,” a cute innocent college boy. Imran Khan said:
I realized its different and I like the idea of doing something like that. I like the challenge of it. I like the fact that so early on my career I am getting a chance to do something like this….he is a very angsty guy, lot of darkness, anger, hatred…and he is a very tenacious guy come what may, he gets hurt, falls down..whatever it is, he keeps going keeps going…the guy was almost a machine.
Imran Khan never planned to become an actor he wanted to become a director. The biggest challenge for him to play the character of ‘Kabir,’ the kidnapper in Kidnap Hindi movie is that he was supposed to portray a person who is very strong and tough. Imran says that Sanjay Gadhvi is an “Alpha Male.” As Gadhvi grew up watching Amitabh Bachchan’s movies, he has that idea of a leading man. He himself acts accordingly and demands the same from his actors. Imran Khan had to act like “Clint Eastwood.”
As a person, Imran Khan thinks he is shameless, brash and do not like to follow the “conventional paths.” If a director offers him a movie, he first demands to see the script. If he does not like the script then he simply says “No.”
Like Aamir Khan Imran Khan is not meticulous but he does not believe in doing anything half measure. He does not like when actors say that they do not feel that something is wrong. As an actor, Imran Khan feels that he has to do what is required of him to do. It does not matter whether he like it or not.
Useful links:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Entertainment/India_Buzz/Imran_kidnapped/articleshow/3518973.cms
http://www.ibnlive.com/news/sanjay-dutt-made-me-nervous-says-imran/74167-8.html
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India_Buzz/Imraan_on_his_new_film/articleshow/3510003.cms
http://movies.ndtv.com/newstory.asp?section=Movies&id=ENTEN20080066133
http://living.oneindia.in/celebrity/bollywood-stars/2008/imraan-khan-biography-220908.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaane_Tu_Ya_Jaane_Na
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imran_Khan_(actor)
