"My character imagines every person's graphical character" - Imaad Shah 
By Satish Sundaresan, March 13, 2009 - 11:47 IST
Imaad Shah, bedsides being the illustrious son of the versatile actor Naseeruddin Shah, has also carved a name for himself in the industry. Not many people know that he actually made his 'official' onscreen debut when he was a mere toddler. The good news is that, this guy, after delivering a memorable performances in Yun Hota Toh Kya Hota, Dil Dosti Etc..., is back with the film called Little Zizou. Bollywood Hungama caught up with this guy for an exclusive interview. Here are the excerpts.
Tell us little about your background. What has been the journey been like in Bollywood?
My background is that I have been doing a lot of theatres. It's not really a 'journey' into Bollywood. I just got a couple of film roles initially, which worked out fine for me. I am a part of the theatre group called 'Motley' for a long time. We are still working on a couple of plays. As far as my 'journey' into Bollywood is concerned, I did a couple of small roles in a few student-centric films, which was followed by my ad for Polo (the 'whistling' Shepard and the sheep ad), which also happens to be my first and last ad. It so happened that Manish, the director of Dil Dosti Etc... saw me in that ad and also in one of my plays, it seemed to work for that time. The strange part about it was that even though the film was thrashed by the critics, it strangely had a very extensive cult following.
The strange part about Dil Dosti Etc was that even though the film was thrashed by the critics, it strangely had a very extensive cult following.
|
What was your initial reaction when Sooni Taraporewala came to you with your role? What made you go for it?
The script was fabulous and a lot of fun. To top it all, Sooni's knowledge about the milieu was simply terrific. It gave rise to a lot of possibilities. The character was fantastic. It also gave me an opportunity to work with lots of people.
In a nutshell, what is the film Little Zizou about?
It's a difficult task to put this film in a nutshell as it has got lots of characters. Basically, the film is about two warring Parsi families. One is a religious Parsi fundamentalist, which actually sounds like an oxymoron, but they do exist. He is totally loony about his whole purity trip. I play his son, who is a graphic designer by profession and is also totally alienated from his father. My character totally imagines every person's graphical character whenever they talk to him. I am in love with the daughter of the 'opposite' family headed by Boman Irani and his character is called Boman Presswala, an editor of a newspaper. Though the fathers are enemies, the children are great friends!
Does that make it a Ek Duje Ke Liye, a la Parsi style?
Yaa...in a way, it does (smiles).
What was it like to shoot in real locations?
All of it were absolute real locations. And trust me, the shooting was absolute fun. The most interesting part was that Sooni had a personal connection with many of the locations. And it's also the first time when a Bollywood film has been shot inside a Parsi temple. We shot at Grant Road, Gowalia Tank, bits of J. J. Flyover, two Irani cafes etc... The whole film is Mumbai-centric.
|
The most interesting part was that Sooni had a personal connection with many of the locations
|
You are also the Assistant Director for Kiran Rao's Dhobi Ghaat?
It was a very interesting film to work on. We have shot ion some of the most memorable locations. The shoot of the film is finished, now we are working on the sound and editing part. Overall, the experience was really great. I really got to learn a lot.
Not many people know that you met with a train accident also?
Trust me when I say that I really don't know what happened that day. All that I can remember is that I was on my way to the college. And when I opened my eyes, I just woke up in the hospital. It's only after I woke up, I was told all about the accident. I have no memory of what happened.
Imaad, you are also a part of a rock band?
I have been playing solo for the last couple of years. I have just got in a band now.
Recent films that blew your mind?
It has to be Oye Lucky, Lucky Oye, Omkara and The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button. But I also loved the music of Dev D. It's truly fantastic.
Being a supporter of free online music, what are your views on piracy?
I really don't know if my views on this topic will actually make a difference or not. But all that I can say is that the free file sharing on the internet does not really affect the musicians as much as it affects the big labels. The only ones who are going to be pushing forth the general consensus on the piracy are going to be the large labels. So, the musicians won't be complaining at all. I can give you lots of instances, whereby the local independent musicians are getting huge boost by the fact that their stuff is being shared free on the net.
|
The only ones who are going to be pushing forth the general consensus on the piracy are going to be the large labels.
|
Do we see yourself in mainstream Bollywood film, running around trees?
On a lighter note, let me clarify that not many people run around trees. But I really know what you are hinting at. To which, my answer will be it really depends on script to script and commercial and non-commercial cinema.
Lastly, since Little Zizou is a movie that centers around sports, your fans would like to know that whether you are a sportsman and which sports you like?
I love football and I have been playing the game ever since I was a child. But having said that, I was a hard core cricketer when I was a child!
|
Imaad Shah's hair-raising story
