He’s four movies old and enjoyed some hits and some misses. But this lad is not miffed. While the nation loved his dad in A Wednesday , 23-year-old Imaad Shah says, “I loved him in Omkara and Bombay Boys will remain my all time favourite.” The curls, the nose and the smile, anyone who knows Nasser, will recognise the boy.
In the city to perform at the Qadir Ali Baig Theatre festival, Imaad looked completely at ease on stage speaking pure Hindi. Wasn’t it hard? “What is so difficult about it? There are a few hard tongue twisting words, but with practise one can get it right,” he says.
Imaad started acting on stage when he was 19 and says he always loved theatre. I think it’s the genes,” he laughs. “I have grown up in an atmosphere where stage, work, plays and scripts were the routine. And when you are constantly in that environment, you are bound to become part of it as well. And here I am,” he adds.
Genes indeed it is, as Imaad looked like a carbon copy of Naseer in some angles and mannerisms while on stage. In one part he wears a waist coat and aviator goggles and there was young Naseer in the movie, Ijazat. “Do I look so similar?” he asks.
Imaad completed his graduation and hopes to study further. “I have plans to study further but not immediately. I am enjoying this phase and have a lot of plans in my mind,” he smiles.
A few of his movies have been released, while Little Zizou was for the multiplex audience, Dil Dosti etc and other movies couldn’t do much at the box office, “There are a few more slated for a year-end release, lets see what happens,” he says.
That Imaad has no filmy airs is evident when his tryst with the train accident made news. “I love being like this. I have worked as an assistant director to gain working knowledge and experience of movies and production,” he says.
However, Imaad has other muses too. A music lover, this Doon School product loves performing music and plays the guitar. One can see him performing when he gets times at the Zenzi bar in Mumbai. “I hope to form my own band some day and I am working at it. Acting in movies is a part time job, I don’t think I will continue with it for long. As long as stage is concerned, let’s see what comes my way.”
Imaad loves the freedom and faith his parents have entrusted upon him, “I mostly take my own decisions on the projects I choose. It is not that they are completely unaware of what I do. They need to know, they are my parents and a little suggestion from them always helps.” Not a stranger to the city, Imaad spent one whole year in Hyderabad at the Osmania University. “It was a nice stay, I enjoyed it,” he smiles. Finally, this actor in the making says he might not continue acting, “I want to make my own film and I am gathering all this experience for that big goal of mine.”
