“My life has always been remote from Aamir’s!”
27 Jun, 2008 07:00 am ISTlRenuka Vyavahare/INDIATIMES MOVIES
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The media has successfully portrayed debutante actor Imran Khan as a
‘NOT-WITHOUT-MY-AAMIR UNCLE’ guy who lacks the ability to think or speak for
himself! Keeping that image in mind I expected an anxiety-stricken and restless
interviewee in the form of Imran when I planned to have a chat with him at his
spacious house in Pali Hill, Mumbai. However as the moment arrived I was
stunned to see a petite Imran (with a tattoo gracing his back!) giving strict
instructions to his stylist about his wardrobe for a tv interview and reminding
the servants to take his ‘just-operated’ cat to the doctor in a stern voice! No
longer I felt I was about to spend a good half an hour with a new-comer! As he
stood up to greet me with a firm handshake, I realized I was talking to a
future super-star...
As I mentioned the word ‘star’, Imran interrupted... “Star! I’ve been giving
interviews for the past three days to the media and I haven’t had the time to
even eat my lunch properly! My mum teases me by saying “Serves your right. I
told you to become a carpenter. But you wanted to act!” Of course I never even
thought of carpentry but she believes, everyone needs a chair to sit!” said
Imran jokingly as he flashed his boyish smile to me.
So has mamu Aamir’s sense of humour rubbed off on you as well, I asked. “Aamir
is wicked! He has a wicked sense of humour. Infact I have no fond memories of
Aamir! He was a pain in the ass when I was a kid! He didn’t miss any
opportunity to tease me, rag me, and harass me. We became friends only when I
turned 13. Recently, after we saw my film, I told Aamir that I am better than
what he was in QSQT. In return, he laughed at me and said, ‘What nonsense! You
have made a good start but you have a long way to go’. He treats me like a kid
but tells others that I am better than him!”
In typical Aamir fashion, as an after thought (post a brief pause) he added,
“My life has always been remote from Aamir’s. My confidence that surprised you
comes from my background. I was born in Madison city, US. Later, had to shift
to Mumbai when I was barely 1 ½ years of age as my parents got divorced. Once
in Mumbai, I studied in Bombay Scottish, till IV Std and later changed 7
different schools in Bangalore, Ooty and finally California! I didn’t go to a
college but went to a film school in LA. When you are always the new kid in the
class you sort of develop a thick skin as you are left with no friends. I am
just a 25-year-old but have always been kind of old for my age. I am known as a
‘grandpa’ in my gang” grinned Imran.
So was it an enjoyable experience for grandpa to work in a youth-oriented film?
“I remember Abbas narrating me the script. I instantly identified with the role
he had offered me. Jai in JTYJN is not a classic Hindi film hero with large
muscles or belonging to a rich family. He doesn’t even have a motor cycle. He
doesn’t have any heroic qualities and is yet very interesting. He is not
boring. In fact I am very much like Jai and the film is quite a lot my real
life love story! I know my girlfriend Avantika for the past six years and
initially even we were not able to figure out if we were in a relationship! We
met through mutual friends and didn’t realize when we fell in love!
Imran’s acting skills have been getting positive response from all but can he
shake his leg like his arch rivals Ranbir and Harman? “Ranbir and Harman are
much better dancers than me. I am no where in the same league as them! All I
can say is I have tried to infuse reality in my performances not just in JTYJN
but also in Kidnap and Luck which are my forthcoming films”, said Imran making
me believe he is here to act and doing nothing else.
If Harman reminds me of Hrithik, Imran too bears an uncanny resemblance to his
illustrious uncle... only 4th July will decide who wins the battle – a
Hrithik-esque dancer and gorgeous looker Harman or smart, no-nonsense,
guy-next-door Imran who has inherited perfection from Aamir! The race begins...
http://movies.indiatimes.com/articleshow/3169265.cms
