How Bhatt convinced Delhi boy Imran to enter movies

New Delhi, April 29 (IANS) Delhi boy Imran Zahid didn't have any acting plans till filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt approached him and convinced him to play a slain student leader in the new film 'Chandu'.

Imran, who runs his own journalism and mass communication institute Take One in Delhi's East of Kailash, says he had never been interested in going to Mumbai for a career in the movies.

'Although I'm from a theatre background, I never wanted to go to Mumbai and make a career in acting. I am very happy teaching in Delhi. But Bhatt Saab convinced me to do this role. He repeatedly told me that I can do it, so I said yes,' Imran, 30, told IANS in an interview.

'Chandu' is on Chandrashekhar Prasad, a student leader from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) who was shot dead in 1997 while addressing a gathering in Siwan, Bihar. Bhatt is the creative consultant for the film.

Imran said he was researching a lot for the role.

'I was in first year in DU when this incident happened, so I know a little bit about it. Then I met a lot of people to learn more about Chandrashekhar Prasad. He was truly a hero and so many people who knew him have given me inputs about his nature, his idols, so that I can understand him well,' said Imran.

'I was quite shocked to see that there is so little on the internet about him. I'm happy that this film is being made through which we can aware people about a person like Chandrashekhar Prasad,' he added.

So, is he nervous about working with an experienced filmmaker like Bhatt?

'No, not at all. In fact, I'm very comfortable with him. Bhatt saab treats me like his son. Whenever he comes to Delhi, he meets me and we talk on any topic under the sun. I'm like family to him and he is my mentor. Whenever I have to take a major decision, I ask him and he guides me,' said the actor.

The director and the rest of the cast for the film is yet to be finalised. The film is slated to go on floor around October this year.

It is being produced by Dubai-based Irfan Izhar, an alumnus of the Aligarh Muslim University.