Imran Khan admits that he was settling for less when he told director and friend Punit Malhotra to rethink his premise for their next film together, Gori Tere Pyaar Mein (releasing on November 22). “He came up with the concept of this frail bridge in a remote village and two lovers and I told him I didn’t see the need for the bridge. I mean, I was happy with the romantic comedy space. Punit and I had been there ( I Hate Luv Storys ) and done really well. Why mess it up with a rural story attached?” says the actor, regarding his apprehensions on the subject of the film.
Gori Tere Pyaar Mein is the story of a young boy who follows the love of his life (Kareena Kapoor) wherever she goes, and ends up in a village where the only mode of commuting is by using a rope bridge. The girl wants to create a change, and the boy cannot fathom her enthusiasm, but love does make you do strange things.
With his third narration, Punit managed to net Imran, and the actor says it’s good that he went the distance and moved out of his space. “With the years, I have realised that acting is like stretching. The more you do it, the better you get. Gori Tere Pyaar Mein has been good in that direction. I think I have done a good job of playing a foolish boy who grows up,” he says with a glint in his eyes.
His ‘chemistry’ with co-star Kareena is something, he feels, most would be envious of. “If there is one person in the industry you ought to have a good chemistry with, it’s Bebo!” he says cheekily. “Seriously though, I think chemistry is something that’s either there or not there. I am glad we hit it off in Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu and you’ll see that magnified this time around.”
Comic timing
Imran also shares a special vibe with his director Punit, nephew of designer Manish Malhotra. “Punit and I share a great sense of comic timing which comes from the same style of humour. That’s how we understand each other the best. That always helps when you are working. I can’t say if we’ll always work together, but I sincerely enjoy working with him,” he says. Another director he likes working with is Ali Abbas Zafar of Mere Brother Ki Dulhan . “He has a quirky sense of humour, reminiscent of some of my nana’s (grandfather Nasir Hussain) earlier films such as Tumsa Nahin Dekha . It’s a little off, if you know what I mean.”
Asked regarding his wife Avantika Malik making a special appearance in most of his films, Imran says, “Actually it’s not just Avantika, in any scene that requires people chilling at a club or theatre, I round up my friends and get them into the act. It’s just a fun thing I do for memories sake!” he laughs.
Imran will be seen next in Vikramaditya Motwane’s Bhavesh Joshi as the lead. While there are reports of this being a superhero character, Imran denies it. “He is very real, not imaginary, not supernatural, not superheroic, not magical. What he is though I can’t tell you!” Even though his last outing at the turnstiles — Once Upon a Time in Mumbai Dobaara — failed, the actor says he is pleased with his work. “The film didn’t get the release it deserved. But I was happy with my role in it,” he says.
