MUMBAI – Although he has over a dozen films to his credit, Imran Khan is yet to make it to Bollywood’s A-list. That’s probably why the director of his next film, Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai Dobara — Milan Luthria — feels that the actor should now carefully choose the people he works with.
“Imran has worked with a lot of first-time directors. Sometimes, you need slightly experienced hands if you want a change of image. Imran is the kind of a guy who goes with the flow. I don’t think he has chosen better or worse than anyone else. We all have good and bad films. But, he is enjoying the process and has done only a few films. He has a long way to go,” says Milan.
With is upcoming film, Milan is hoping to show a new side to Imran. “He is the dark horse in the movie. Right now, the focus is on Akshay, but to me, it is Imran who is the surprise package. People will not expect this kind of maturity in his portrayal. We have had discussions and workshops, and he has surpassed himself,” says the director.
He adds that like Vidya Balan in The Dirty Picture (2011), Imran’s role in this film will also change people’s mindset about the actor. “Many people find it difficult to slot him in this genre. They might be wondering what he is doing in this film. To me, the situation is similar to the time I cast Vidya as a sex symbol. I think it’s time that Imran shows audiences that he is an actor with depth rather than just a rom-com hero,” says Milan.
