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Actresses can be dumb: Imran Khan

Imran Khan left girls swooning and sighing after the runaway success of his debut film ‘Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na’, but his second film ‘Kidnap’ did not go down well with the audience. But this has not deterred Imran Khan, who has some good projects lined up. In an exclusive interview with Spicezee’s Swati Chaturvedi in Kahiye Janaab, the chocolaty-turned-villainous Imran Khan talks about his pout, mamu and dumb actresses…

Imran Khan left girls swooning and sighing after the runaway success of his debut film ‘Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na’, but his second film ‘Kidnap’ did not go down well with the audience. But this has not deterred Imran Khan, who has some good projects lined up. In an exclusive interview with Spicezee’s Swati Chaturvedi in Kahiye Janaab, the chocolaty-turned-villainous Imran Khan talks about his pout, mamu and dumb actresses… Q:Nobody knew you before ‘Jaane Tu..’. Overnight you woke up to find yourself a superstar. How does this turn-of-events make you feel, Imran?
Imran: ‘Jaane Tu…’ was a small movie, we were sure that it will be well received, but I was surely not expecting such a grand success. I was really very surprised. When I heard of theatres going house full, I was kind of confused at what was happening. I was really very surprised. Q: Did you know one day you will be a superstar? What did you aspire to become? Imran: I wanted to be an actor, but becoming a superstar takes a lot of hard work and time. I am not there yet. Q: From the time Aamir Khan entered the film industry, lying about his marital status, to now, when you openly acknowledge that you have a girlfriend, a lot has changed. Now people talk of your pout! What’s your take on this? Imran: Talking about these type of things don’t matter much. A lot of things are discussed these days, like, what has one worn in a movie, who is linked with whom, but at the end, the only thing that matters is the performance. The viewers pay for the ticket, and expect to get entertained well. Controversies and gossips don’t affect the real viewer. Only work counts. Q: You were launched as the chocolate boy, but you underwent an image makeover with the latest flick ‘Kidnap’. Wasn’t this sudden change in image too risky? Imran: If this was a risk, then I am glad about it. I am an actor and look for challenging roles. Playing safe won’t take me anywhere. If the ‘image change’ thing is a risk, then it is good. Q: Is there a particular formula for success, like we have Kumar Gaurav, who is a splendid actor but he didn’t quite click. What formula should an actor to keep his career graph up? Imran: An actor’s work is a creative one. Creativity doesn’t follow any formula. Q: Aamir Khan always has a definite stand on any particular issue. He takes up socially relevant issues, like Narmada issue, or Dyslexia. Do you have the same values in you? Imran: Yes I do. Actors are generally afraid that if they take a definite stance, then they might annoy a part of the audience, which does not support the issue. Q: Does Imran Khan have any such fear? Imran: No, I am a shameless, fearless actor. I don’t have any such fear. Q: We have here in Bollywood this new trend of labeling oneself as ‘King’, or ‘Shahenshah’ or declaring that ‘I have got six abs or twelve abs’. Don’t you find this kind of labeling ridiculous? Imran: You are perhaps talking about the portrayal of heroes in promos, in promotional works for movies. I have also done that, letting my shirt blow in the wind to show my abs, that’s what we are laughing about here. It is actually a part of the packaging that we do of a movie to present it to the viewers before the actual release. When the viewer likes the packaging, he will go to watch the movie. So the packaging is very important. Q: Were you satisfied with the packaging of ‘Jaane Tu…’? Imran: Yes, very much. In the packaging, we showed exactly what the movie had. Q: How do you feel being a superstar? Imran: I am not a superstar, or I wouldn’t be slogging like this. Look at me, how I am running from one city to another giving all kinds of interviews when I have no time to eat, to meet my friends, to get a moment for myself. A superstar’s life is not like this. I am not a superstar as of now. Q: What is the dumbest question that you have been asked in an interview? Imran: ‘Do you play pranks on sets?’ It was so stupid! Who gets the time to play pranks man, when there is hardly any time to complete all the shots in time. We keep watching the sun go down and think of completing this last shot and then pack up. Who has the time to hide anyone’s shoes in that? Q: But actors do tell stories of pranks on sets! Imran: I have absolutely no idea of how they do it. Q: Tell us something about the ‘dumb’ interviews that you have done. Imran: Yes, I have done some absolutely moronic interviews. They ask hopeless questions, and if I give them the truth they won’t like it at all. So, I also at times make up stories to please those asking stupid questions. Q: Farhan Akhtar said, “All actors are excellent liars.” Do you agree? Imran: But I always tell the truth. No I don’t lie, and so journos say that I am blunt, but I am truthful. Q: You don’t seem to have much respect for the rest, apart from Aamir Mamu? What do you have to say to this blog-war, and Aamir saying ‘I had Shah Rukh at my feet eating biscuits from my hand’! Imran: You might not be knowing this but Shah Rukh was shooting for ‘Mohabbatein’, and I was sixteen at the time, and there on the sets. I saw him working so sincerely. Even when the Director was not around, he was there out in the sun, rehearsing his moves, talking about how he will deliver a particular dialogue. He works really hard, and is a very sincere man. Aamir Mamu has a very different kind of humour, and mine is also like his. In life, I will also get in trouble that I know. Nothing has happened till date, but it will happen, because nobody understands my humour either. Q: Except your ‘Mamu’, which actor do you look up to? Imran: I am a great fan of Hrithik Roshan. I have always admired him and his work. He works really hard. Q: Talking of your girlfriend Avantika. How did you meet? Imran: We met at a friend’s place. It has been six years now. We have been together for six years now. Q: What made you fall for her? Imran: She gets my sense of humour. She always gets it when I am kidding. And it is very important for me. Girls don’t get my sense of humour, generally. Only one actor, Minissha always gets my humour. Q: Is it true that actresses happen to be dumb girls? Imran: Sometimes, yes! Take for example Genelia and Manjari, they never got any of my jokes - not once. Q: What is your take on the statement by Shabana Azmi that Muslims do not get a home in Mumbai, about Muslims being generally discriminated against. Imran: I can’t say about India, but in the world people do have this wrong image for Muslims. There they have somehow associated the image of a Muslim to that of a terrorist. This makes the Muslims feel alienated, and it is very unfortunate. Adapted by: Nabila Habib