Imtiaz Ali admits making “mistake” in taking up acting in Anurag Kashyap’s Black Friday; says, “Woh mereko zaleel karna chahta hoga”

Imtiaz Ali discusses his unexpected acting stint in the Anurag Kashyap film Black Friday.

By Bollywood Hungama News Network -

October 16, 2023 - 9:47 AM IST

Imtiaz Ali, widely recognized for his directorial work on films such as Jab We Met, Tamasha, and Rockstar, recently made a candid revelation about his brief but not-so-well-known acting role in Anurag Kashyap's Black Friday. In a recent interview with Lallantop, Imtiaz Ali referred to his decision to act in the film as a “mistake.”

Imtiaz Ali admits making “mistake” in taking up acting in Anurag Kashyap’s Black Friday; says, “Woh mereko zaleel karna chahta hoga”

During the conversation, while reflecting on his somewhat reluctant choice to play a role in Anurag Kashyap's Black Friday, Imtiaz Ali confessed, “When we are young, we all make mistakes. One of my mistakes was taking his advice. We spent a lot of time together and even lived in the same building. We were deeply involved in each other's work. I don't know why he suggested that I should play the role of Yakub Memon in Black Friday. I think it was his stubbornness, woh mereko zaleel karna chahta hoga (he wanted to embarrass me). He said to me, ‘Main aapke liye jaan de sakta hoon, aap mere liye role nahi kar sakte? (I can give my life for you, but you can't play a role for me?). He said this with a lot of emotion, probably because he was a struggling actor at the time (laughs). At that time also he was acting.”

Imtiaz Ali also revealed that Anurag suggested he grow out his hair because additional scenes needed to be filmed for the movie. This recommendation led to him keeping long hair, and he humorously noted, “This is why I have long hair now.”

Black Friday marked Anurag Kashyap’s second directorial venture after Paanch, and he was also the film's writer. Inspired by Black Friday: The True Story of the Bombay Bomb Blasts, a book by Hussain Zaidi detailing the 1993 Bombay bombings, the film delves into the events leading up to the bombings and the subsequent police investigation. In 2004, the film faced legal challenges that resulted in its delayed release. After three years of legal battles, it finally premiered in Indian theatres, receiving critical acclaim. The film featured an ensemble cast that included actors Pawan Malhotra, Kay Kay Menon, Aditya Srivastava, Kishor Kadam, and Zakir Hussain in prominent roles.

Also Read: Anurag Kashyap shares daughter Aaliyah had spent more time with Imtiaz Ali than him; says, “It eats you up inside”