Imtiaz Ali, known for directing some of Hindi cinema’s most beloved romantic films, had a firm personal rule: never work with the same actor twice. But this rule, as he now publicly admits, no longer applies.
Ahead of the release of his upcoming Partition-era romantic drama ‘Main Vaapas Aaunga’, the director revealed how his thinking has evolved.
Imtiaz Ali talks about breaking the no-repetition rule
In an interview with Hindustan Times, Imtiaz Ali made his directorial debut with Socha Na Tha in 2005, before going on to make acclaimed films like Jab We Met (2007), Love Aaj Kal (2009), Rockstar (2011) and Highway (2014). Through this impressive tour, he deliberately avoided casting the same actors again, driven by a fear of creative repetition.“At first, I thought I shouldn’t go back and work with the same actor again. I thought I would suffer from the effects of the previous film,” he explained.This thinking changed when he wrote the film Tamasha (2015), in which he reunited with Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone. He said the scary hangover never materialized. “There was nothing, with Diljit or even with Ranbir or Deepika,” the director added.
Imtiaz Ali talks about choosing Ranbir Kapoor in two very different roles
Imtiaz drew comparison with Ranbir Kapoor, who played strikingly different characters in Rockstar and Tamasha.
He said, “With Ranbir, he was a different man (in Tamasha). Here too, Nirveer (Diljit’s character) is a completely different person from Chamkila. This role would not have been possible this way if he had not played it.”
Why Diljit Dosanjh It was the only option for ‘Main Vaapas Aaunga’
Diljit Dosanjh, who played the lead in Imtiaz’s widely acclaimed Amar Singh Chamkila, returns to the lead role in Main Vaapas Aaunga. For the director, the decision was clear and entirely rooted in the writing.He revealed, “I always write first, and then see which actor suits the part. With Diljit, I realized that he is the most suitable for this part. Why should I have the idea of not working with the same actor back-to-back if he is the best actor in this film?”
About ‘Main Vaapas Aaunga’
‘Main Vaapas Aaunga’ is a romantic drama set against the backdrop of Partition. The film stars Diljit Dosanjh alongside Vidang Raina, Sharvari and Naseeruddin Shah, and is scheduled to hit theaters on June 12.