Imran Khan, who was in South Africa for the FIFA finals, definitely would not have been delighted with the results. In an interview just before he was flown to the soccer hot ground by Coca Cola, he admitted he was going to back The Netherlands. “The underdogs,” he explained. “I usually like to cheer for them. There is more cinematic material in an underdog win.”
He should know. Though by no means an underdog, Imran has been unfairly compared with Ranbir Kapoor every time the latter sees a release. Invariably, the Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na star is marked down notches. At least that was the case until last fortnight's release of the Imran-Sonam starrer I Hate Luv Storys . The film's been declared a hit and the fair-skinned light-eyed boy has proved he's not just a choco-chip.
“Comparisons between Ranbir and me are difficult. But I'd assure they are not coming from me,” he laughs. “Each of us will be great at some time; success is important. But we can't have daily speculation on whether he's making an x amount and I am making x+1. I have picked up this from my family. You can't chase success, chase excellence,” says Imran.
After one-film wonder, romcom specialist is the new label that Imran's contending with. “I have never bought this idea of an image. If a film is good, its star cast notwithstanding, it will work. There is no denying that I have had success with two romcoms but as an actor I will only do my work, the rest of the team has to get its act together. If Luck and Kidnap didn't work, it doesn't mean that I will not touch that genre again. It depends on how the script plays out. My next releases, Break Ke Baad and Delhi Belly are not romcoms,” he clarifies.
Believe it or not, Imran's love for soccer is not born out of passion for the game. “I watch it as a spectator sport just as anyone else would watch films — for entertainment! If I am watching a game of tennis, I will capture the tension in the air, the look on the face of the players and what might be going on in their minds. How they play is secondary,” he says. That sounds very much like a director in the making. “I am. That's what I have studied and that's where I intend to be. I am an actor by chance!”
Imran who endorses only two brands — Coke and Levis — says he would like to endorse only that which he can with conscience.
He has recently shot for the second Coke ad, the first of which with Kalki Koechlin was a huge hit. “It was my first ad and it went on to become the best-ever for Asia with highest recall value and audience reaction,” he says.
On the acting front there is another Karan Johar film in his kitty while Danish Aslam's Break Ke Baad scheduled for a year-end release and Abhinay Deo's Delhi Belly (under uncle Aamir Khan Productions' banner) will hit the screens next year.
