Imtiaz Ali, a filmmaker celebrated for crafting some of Hindi cinema’s most loved romantic films, once followed a very firm personal rule during his creative process: never work with the same actor twice. However, ahead of the release of his upcoming Partition-era romantic drama Main Vaapas Aaunga, the director has openly shared how his perspective on casting has completely evolved over the years.
Speaking to Hindustan Times, Imtiaz shed light on his earlier mindset. Imtiaz made his directorial debut with Socha Na Tha in 2005 and followed it up with a string of celebrated films like Jab We Met (2007), Love Aaj Kal (2009), Rockstar (2011), and Highway (2014). Throughout this impressive and successful run, he deliberately chose not to cast the same actors again. This decision was driven entirely by a fear of creative repetition.
Explaining his initial stance, Imtiaz said, “Initially, I used to think I should never go back and work with the same actor again. I thought I would have a hangover from the previous film.” However, that rigid rule changed when he wrote Tamasha (2015), where he chose to reunite with both Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone. To his surprise, the creative hangover he feared never showed up. Talking about that realization, he added, “There was none, with Diljit or even with Ranbir or Deepika.”
Drawing a parallel between his experiences, Imtiaz pointed out how Ranbir played two completely contrasting characters under his direction in Rockstar and Tamasha. He mentioned, “With Ranbir, it was a different guy (in Tamasha). Here too, Nirvair (Diljit’s character) is a completely different person from Chamkila. This role wouldn’t be possible in this way if he weren’t playing it.”
Diljit Dosanjh, who previously collaborated with Imtiaz in the widely acclaimed film Amar Singh Chamkila, is now returning as the lead actor in Main Vaapas Aaunga. For the director, choosing Diljit for the new project was a straightforward decision based purely on the text.
Revealing his approach to casting, Imtiaz explained, “I always write first, and then see which actor suits this part. With Diljit, I realised he is the most suited for this part. Why should I have the notion of not working with the same actor back-to-back if he is the best actor for this film?”
Set against the intense backdrop of the Partition, Main Vaapas Aaunga is a romantic drama that stars Diljit Dosanjh alongside an ensemble cast including Vedang Raina, Sharvari, and Naseeruddin Shah. The film will release in cinemas on June 12.
Also Read: Exclusive: “I Don’t Want to Go Into Making Sequels” – Imtiaz Ali
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