For every actor, regardless of level of talent, there's always that fine line to walk in a career between art and commerce. For Imran Khan, he's managed to do the latter quite well. Out of the 6 films he has been a part of, three are box office successes - Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na, I Hate LUV Storys and Delhi Belly. But the success of the edgy, dark and funny Delhi Belly has transformed Imran Khan into the object of ravenous obsession, not to mention the millions of dark twisted fantasies. When I met the actor recently, he did seem to look like one - I mean the pin-up. If Delhi Belly is what I term as 'The Return of the CULT, Imran Khan is back as 'The Return of the PIN-UP'.
"Today when I look at it, Delhi Belly may turn out to be my biggest hit till date"
I am damn psyched about the fact that Delhi Belly is turning out to be a 'cult' in its own way. I am truly stunned with the response to Delhi Belly. While making this film I had this great sense that I was making a damn good film. I don't know if I am making a hit film or a film that is going to make a lot of money. All I knew was that it was a concept never tried before. As we started the publicity, I thought there could be a chance of Delhi Belly doing well but today when I look at it, Delhi Belly may turn out to be my biggest hit till date.
"Now the demand is that we should release the Hindi version in multiplexes too"
Delhi Belly again brought the 'repeat audience' phenomenon back in a different business module. By releasing the film in two different languages, now the multiplex audiences want to watch it in Hindi too. When we made the film we thought that it wasn't going to appeal to the Hindi speaking audiences as much as it would to the English speaking ones. But today the tables have turned. Even this phenomenon has taken us by surprise. Now the demand is that we should release the Hindi version in multiplexes too. Delhi Belly has broken so many rules and created so many parameters that the audience is defining cinema.
"Aamir said that he wanted to hold the film until the people are ready for it"
Delhi Belly is many years ahead of everyone. But if we would've released the film a couple of years ago, it would've been too far in the future (laughs). Aamir had cracked a good one by saying that we should hold the film back until people are ready for it. Aamir has always believed and through experience I've too come to believe that a good film will always be a good film. Delhi Belly was in the cans for two and a half years. Jaane Tu... was in the cans for one and a half years.
"I don't have enough films under my belt to boast that I am successful today"
At this stage in my career, every individual hit or a flop is a life or a death thing. Somehow over here, I haven't built my brand equity. I've done only six films so far. I don't have enough films under my belt to boast that I am successful today. If I had been around for twenty years and if I would've given two to three flops it wouldn't have mattered because I still have a two decade worth of goodwill. Today, for me, every film is like a test of fire.
"I get very embarrassed when people think of me as a pin-up"
I get very embarrassed when people think of me as a pin-up. By nature, I am a little shy and I've played characters that aren't too glamorous. I Hate LUV Storys is the only film where I look glamorous otherwise I've tried to play guys who are too relatable. For me, I am a greedy actor. I want to do stuff like Delhi Belly and something like Mere Brother Ki Dulhan too.
"The end of Delhi Belly is open ended and it does leave a potential for a sequel"
What I got from Akshat Verma's ending is that despite the drama in the end, everyone is still living happy lives, happier than they were before. So these boys have settled down and are doing fine for themselves. The landlord is fine now. That is what I like about the end of Delhi Belly that it is open ended and it thus leaves a potential for a sequel.
"In the last five years, the Censor Board has become tremendously progressive"
I would like to think that the success of Delhi Belly should not change the working of our Censor Board. The censor board is missed name. It's a certification. What our board does is that it certifies the film. Particularly in the past five years, the Censor Board has become tremendously progressive.
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