Director Imtiaz Ali has long been known for his energetic cinema, and much of that spirit has been shaped by his creative partnership with music legend AR Rahman. On the Indian Idol stage, Imtiaz gave fans a rare and poignant window into what this collaboration is really like, including late-night studio sessions that extend beyond midnight and a maestro whose love for music never fades.
Imtiaz Ali reveals that he was at AR Rahman’s studio at 4:30 am
Imtiaz set the tone early, sharing a vivid anecdote from a final night in Rahman’s studio that perfectly exemplifies the composer’s exceptional work ethic. “Aur jis Tarah se, I think kal raat ko hum kaam kar rahe the; Yesterday I was in your studio, sir, at 4:30 in the morning,” he recalls on stage (And the way… I think we were working last night. Yesterday, I was in your studio, sir, till 4:30 in the morning).Rahman, who is characterized by his self-criticism, responded with a laugh: “For the first time, I feel sleepy.”But, as Imtiaz explains, even that rare moment of fatigue did not slow down the maestro. “But even though he was sleepy, he still got up and went to the keyboard. His love of music is so intense,” the director said.
Imtiaz Ali says he has become a fan of AR Rahman more than before
Host Harsh Limbachiya highlighted that this marks the fifth film collaboration between the duo, much to Imtiaz’s admiration. He said, “Rehman sir ka fan jitna bada main pehle tha, yeh zarur keh sakta hoon ki unke saath paanch filmein karne ke baad main zyada bada fan ho gaya hoon (As much as I was a big fan of Rehman sir earlier, I can definitely say that after doing five films with him, I have become an even bigger fan of his).
“He was equally emphatic about the freshness that Rahman brings to every project. “Yeh jaadu pehle se hi create ho raha hai. Inhone intazam nahi kiya tha ki jab main aaunga tab yeh jaadu ka creation shuru hoga. Pehle gaane se ab tak har gaana kuch naya hota hai (This magic was created from the beginning itself. It’s not like he planned that the magic would start only when I came. From the first song till now, every song was something new).
“Reflecting on what working alongside an Oscar-winning genius means to him personally, Imtiaz said: “I think with that kind of admiration and love for his art, it must have been that way with Rahman sir. And I see every time I work with him, every day I work with him, I discover something new that I try to emulate. I’m really grateful for this opportunity that I’ve been given.”The director also took a nostalgic turn and urged audiences to seek out Rahman’s score that is close to his heart.
He said, “Mere liye ek waisa gaana hai; aapko maine pehle bola bhi tha, ‘Aazma Le’. Agar kisi ne woh gaana nichoda nahi hai, nichod ke piya nahi hai, toh mera yeh intaza hai ki please aap woh gaana sune. ‘Aazma Le’, ‘Aazma Le’, Taxi No. 9211, Shekhar ne gaya hua hai. Beautiful song (For me, there is one song like that, I mentioned it to you earlier too, “Aazma Le.
If someone doesn’t really get that song and enjoy every bit of it, I would ask them to please listen to it. The song “Uzma Lo” from Taxi No. 9211, sung by Shekhar Ravjiani. It’s a beautiful song.”
Imtiaz Ali”Home Fabas Unga ‘
Imtiaz Ali is currently promoting his upcoming film ‘Main Vaapas Aaunga’. Starring Diljit Dosanjh,
Nasir al-Din Shah
Vedang Raina and Sharvari, the film is scheduled to hit theaters on June 12, 2026.
