On his visit to Nagpur, Imran Khan spoke exclusively to TOI about civil liberties, his brush with theatre and competition in Bollywood
You have come to Nagpur after five years...
My first visit to Nagpur is something to cherish! I came to Nagpur during the release of my first film as a hero Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na along with Aamir (Khan) mamu. I was amazed to see a huge crowd cheering us outside Nagpur Times office. It was the first time I had seen such a huge crowd cheering, clapping, whistling, screaming... I had never come across that kind of recognition before. It was a surreal experience. My enduring memory is the enthusiasm with which people were chasing our cars. I remember all of us - Aamir mamu, Genelia (D'Souza) and Abbas (Tyrewala) - were stuck in one car and there was this huge group of bikers that was following us everywhere we went in the city. In Mumbai, crowd's response is like woh dekho Imran Khan jaa raha hai; whereas, in Nagpur, there is a genuine enthusiasm among people at large, which I think for any actor is a great motivation.
You have been a social activist of sorts; you filed a Public Interest Litigation against Maharashtra government's decision to increase the permissible drinking age to 25. But, it didn't fructify... Many say your protest didn't reach a logical conclusion. Do you think it's virtually impossible to have a sustained effort for the actors who pick up social causes?
I've done my best to the extent I could, but ultimately, it comes down to our judicial system. My PIL was filed in 2011, and earlier this year, it was submitted by the court and the court has directed the Government of Maharashtra to respond to the PIL. It took two years for this, but in my opinion it was lightning fast, given the kind of pendency our legal system is stricken with. I'm steadfast on my stand; I'm paying my lawyer through my nose. So, ultimately whether I am an ordinary citizen or a star, only this much I can do. I'm having a sustained effort but it's stupidity if somebody expects me to do some Herculean stuff and make things go around.
Do you drink?
Yes. But, the great misunderstanding is that it's about alcohol consumption. To me, it's an issue of civil liberties. The state's intention is absolutely correct. Even in my family and friends circle, I've seen people struggling with alcohol addiction. It's a serious problem indeed! That said, you cannot restrict civil liberties in order to combat alcohol abuse. Increasing the permissible age limit of drinking for adults is definitely not the solution. If drinking for a young adult is legal, one would go out for dinner and would have a glass of beer or wine. Chances of self-restriction are more. But, when it's illegal, one would sneak to the theka (wine shop) at the corner and would source a quarter of rum from there and quickly pour it down the throat and rush. That not only increases the propensity of lack of control but also increases the risk of alcohol addiction. Prohibition and restrictions don't stop people from indulging and states like Gujarat are the shining example of that. Despite being a prohibited state for alcohol, it flows there. Since the Delhi rape case, all of us have been talking about women's safety and a few politicians have gone to the extent of suggesting a dress code for women in order to protect them from being raped or molested. What kind of safety measure is this? To control pollution, you cannot restrict people from driving. Their intention is correct but the methodology is ridiculous. This is the only contention I have with them.
In cities like Nagpur, thanks to Bombay Police Act 1951, it's difficult to get licenses for even dance floors...
It's an issue that has been going on in Mumbai as well; my friends in restaurant business there are quite affected by this. And there is a ludicrous enforcement. They would allow only 20-22 people in a big area for the dance floor. There should be a concrete wall separating dance area from the bar, so on... Such conditions not only hamper the return on investment from business point of view, but also spoil a party. For the want of a better word, it's stupid. The fact of the matter is that it's an unsympathetic situation. If you want to party, you are tagged as irresponsible and immoral. Why can't powers that be realise that it's justified to have fun. No matter how much genuine your demands from legal, societal and moralistic standpoint, you're put into an unsympathetic state if you advocate merrymaking. So, you're unable to contest it.
How do you deal with the generalisation that stars rake up social causes for their branding purpose?
I pay absolutely no attention to such accusations. In June 2011, Maharashtra govt. raised the permissible drinking age in the state, and I had my films Delhi Belly and Mere Brother Ki Dulhan releasing in July and September, respectively. Both the films did well, and when both were out of theatres, I filed the PIL in October that year. And there was no film of mine slated for release till next six months. Tell me what was I promoting then? I'm doing something not for any publicity or promotion but with the intent to question a law that I feel is not right. If people question my motivation, it's irrelevant to me. As members of democratic society, it's our duty to stand up and see if things are working properly or not.
You did your debut in theatre as the first male character with the controversial English play The Vagina Monologues in 2009? After that a theatre workshop with Delhi-based theatre director NK Sharma during the shoot of Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola. While, English theatre is more of a sophisticated setting, NK's direction technique is a bit rustic as he treats his actors with slaps and abuses. What difference you found in the two diametrically opposite theatre philosophies?
Working with Mahabanoo (Mody Kotwal) on The Vagina Monologues was much closer to the world I'm used to. Obviously, as I've grown up abroad, I'm more comfortable with English and the entire ambience was familiar, but working with NK proved quite beneficial for me as an actor. It opened me up; it stretched me in the areas that were unfamiliar to me. When you stretch your limits, your limits get enhanced. That's what happened with me while working with NK. Working in The Vagina Monolouges was more of a comfort zone for me; so I wasn't stretching my capabilities. But, when I started working in Hindi theatre, when I started learning Haryanvi (for Matru...), I was stretching my capabilities far beyond my capacities. Even if I never speak Haryanvi in my life, having stretched those muscles has added much to an actor in me. Having worked in Matru... has helped me in my forthcoming film Gori Tere Pyaar Mein. Contrary to my desi role in Matru... I am playing an urbane cool guy in Gori... but my experience with Matru... gave me certain tools that I've utilised here. The feeling of being capable of doing some thing new and difficult can nudge me in different directions.
How many slaps did you get by NK Sharma?
I got quite a few slaps until I learnt the trick of standing next to good actresses, rather than the bad ones! As NK doesn't slap a girl, the boy standing next to her gets her share of slaps as well!
You are working for the second time with Kareena Kapoor in Gori Tere Pyaar Mein. She says that you make her look good on screen...
I think Kareena makes me look good on screen. At the early stage of my career, Aamir mamu told me that there is a tendency among actors that 'I must shine as a star on the screen with all idiots around me.' This is a very damaging thought because if you are surrounded with good actors on screen, it forces you to perform better and in turn making the film look good overall. When you share a screen with a good actor, there's interplay; it's like table tennis. The rhythm works for you. So, I'm a firm believer of working with talented actors.
While Kareena is comfortable with Saif doing intimate scenes with other actresses, how does Avantika react to your intimate scenes with good looking actresses as she is from a non-filmi background?
I'm sure it must be awkward for her to watch me doing kissing or sex scenes, but she never raised any objections. It must have troubled her somewhere, but she never made an issue of her. One can't help; it's work after all.
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