I have never been insecure: Imran Khan

Imran Khan on the absence of releases, changing equations and why he's not afraid of anyone stealing his film.

You haven't had a release in almost two years. Doesn't that bother you?

In 2013, I had three releases, films I'd been working on all year, and I was exhausted. There was a decline in quality too. Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na and Delhi Belly had been made with a lot of care and I wanted to function within those parameters again. I've never been insecure so not having a release doesn't bother me. I can't do two films simultaneously or jump from one project to the next.

Is that why you pushed Katti Batti ahead by three months?

Around the time I committed to Nikhil (Advani), we learnt that Avantika was pregnant. We'd have started filming close to her due date. I wanted to be with my wife in the last months of her term and the baby in the first three months so I asked Nikhil to push the shoot from June to September.

And you also parted ways with Vikramaditya Motwane who replaced you with Sidharth Malhotra in his fantasy flick, Bhavesh Joshi, but has since shelved it, saying this is not the right time to talk about corruption.

Vick and I parted ways early last year. He and I were seeing the film differently. Since I couldn't ask him to compromise on his vision, I bowed out, even though the subject had potential. And despite the achche din, I don't think the city can put corruption behind it in the next five years.

There's talk about Kangana Ranaut wanting scripting credit, directing Katti Bati and sitting on the editing...

Editing sounds implausible, and asking for script credit would be unfair to the writer Anshul Singhal as the creative inputs are what any thinking actor would give. As for directing, the opening scene has us lying in bed and it wasn't possible for the crew, even the cinematographer, to be in the room. So we shot it ourselves with an iPad. (Smiles) I operated the camera too and left the direction to Nikhil.

Why don't we hear such stories about you?

My phone is usually off or on silent. I don't call up journalists and publicists to write stuff or shut up. I'm only interested in making movies. And I discuss the creative process with my director and co-stars.

Aren't you afraid that Kangana, after the success of Tanu Weds Manu Returns, will overshadow you?

I've never been afraid about someone stealing a film from me. Katti Batti is a love story, a handmade film, I've never felt this degree of pride and confidence before.

Were you angry when after three successive flops you were written off?

No, this is business and numbers matter. If this works, people will be lining up outside my house too saying, "Bro, where've you been? Phone kyun nahin kiya?"

When do you start Anand Rai's next with Shruti?

I really liked the Tamil original, Kalyana Samayal Saadam. I'm waiting to read the script before I say 'yes' or 'no' to the remake.

I'm only committed to Tigmanshu Dhulia's Milan Talkies towards the year end. I'd agreed to do it in 2011 but since I was doing Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai Again (OUATIMA), Milan Talkies got delayed. Then, I had a public fallout with Ekta and lost the film. But early this year, we sorted things out. She still wanted to make it and since I've felt guilty that Tigmashu's film got sidelined in our fallout, I returned to it.

Do you regret the fallout?

No, it was necessary. Things were simmering under the surface. We talked things out. Now we respect each other more.

Was OUATIMA a mistake?

No, but we all made mistakes during its making which worked against the film.

There was also a falling out with Karan Johar after Gori Tere Pyaar Mein flopped?

Not true, people needed someone to hang the failure on. I felt bad for Karan and Puneet (Malhotra) who'd offered me I Hate Luv Storys when I was getting only second and third leads. Puneet and I just shot an ad together. Karan was one of the first to wish Avantika on her pregnancy and sent a huge hamper when Imara was born. A film together will stop the rumours.

Avantika's comments about Ranbir Kapoor's performance in Rajneeti, overheard by Rahul Rawail, ruined your friendship with Ranbir?

(Straightfaced) Is Rahul Rawail still around? He had a grudge against Avantika because she'd rejected his Buddha Mil Gaya when working for a studio after it had been greenlit. After the story came out, I called Ranbir, told him this hadn't happened. He had enough regard for me to take my word for it and not that of a third person who wanted to get his name in the papers or curry favour with someone.

Weren't you and he supposed to produce a film together?

In the industry, I'm not on the same page with many but Ranbir got what I was talking about and he agreed with what I was saying. So, we spoke of producing a film in a hypothetical space. Next thing we know, our phones are ringing off the hook. I do want to produce and direct but I don't think I have the skills and experience yet.

Has Imara changed your life?

I've found peace. I always was a calm person but having a child teaches you your priorities. Today, I know in a second what's of value. We're now on a one month break in London. Avantika's mom and my mom are here too. It's a typical Sooraj Barjatya kind of a vacation.