Imran Khan may have taken a sabbatical from the movies, but he remains thoroughly updated with all the developments in the film industry. Known for his candid and honest opinions, the actor has never been swayed by the allure of stardom or followed conventional paths dictated by popular trends. Instead, he has consistently chosen his own unique route in his career.
Imran Khan's Comeback and New Film Project
As Imran Khan prepares to make his much-anticipated comeback, he is not only acting in his upcoming film but has also taken on the role of co-producer. He is reuniting with Danish Aslam, the director of his earlier film 'Break Ke Baad', for this new project, which also stars Bhumi Pednekar. In a recent interview, Imran revealed that the film has completed shooting and is currently in the post-production phase, generating excitement among fans eager to see his return to the big screen.
Imran Khan's Views on the Star System in Bollywood
During the conversation, Imran Khan opened up about the prevalent practice in Bollywood where actors are cast based on a film's budget. When asked if this system still exists and his opinion on it, Imran shared a nuanced perspective with ETimes. He acknowledged that there is a valid side to this approach, explaining that actors with greater marquee value naturally attract larger audiences and more attention to a film. This makes financial sense, as producers are willing to invest more in such actors, especially for high-budget projects like large-scale action films that require significant expenses to succeed.
However, Imran did not hold back in criticizing how stars often exploit this system. He reflected on lessons learned from his uncle, Aamir Khan, and observed in previous generations of actors. According to Imran, these earlier stars would invest in their films, not necessarily by putting money directly from their wallets, but by taking personal responsibility and ownership of the projects. He slammed the current trend where actors charge exorbitant fees upfront, using a hypothetical example: if a film costs 30 crores to make and an actor demands 40 crores as salary, the total cost balloons to 70 crores, making profitability a challenge.
Aamir Khan's Approach as a Benchmark
Imran highlighted Aamir Khan's consistent approach as an ideal model. Aamir has never taken his full market value upfront; instead, he opts for backend deals, avoiding high fees that could handicap a film. Imran described demanding large upfront fees as foolishness, arguing that it exploits the film and enriches the actor at the project's expense. He emphasized that this behavior often stems from a lack of faith in the film's quality, with actors adopting a mindset of securing their money regardless of the outcome.
Imran firmly believes that stars, who are often the backbone of film financing, should be in a position to gamble on their film's success and quality. If they lack the financial security to take such risks, he questions who else can. This critique underscores his commitment to artistic integrity over personal gain, a principle he has upheld throughout his career.
