“My life has always been remote from Amir

The media has successfully portrayed debutante actor Imran Khan as a 'NOT-WITHOUT-MY-AAMIR UNCLE' guy who lacks the ability to think or speak for himself! Keeping that image in mind I expected an anxiety-stricken and restless interviewee in the form of Imran when I planned to have a chat with him at his spacious house in Pali Hill, Mumbai. However as the moment arrived I was stunned to see a petite Imran (with a tattoo gracing his back!) giving strict instructions to his stylist about his wardrobe for a tv interview and reminding the servants to take his 'just-operated' cat to the doctor in a stern voice! No longer I felt I was about to spend a good half an hour with a new-comer! As he stood up to greet me with a firm handshake, I realized I was talking to a future super-star...

As I mentioned the word 'star', Imran interrupted... "Star! I've been giving interviews for the past three days to the media and I haven't had the time to even eat my lunch properly! My mum teases me by saying "Serves your right. I told you to become a carpenter. But you wanted to act!" Of course I never even thought of carpentry but she believes, everyone needs a chair to sit!" said Imran jokingly as he flashed his boyish smile to me.

So has mamu Aamir's sense of humour rubbed off on you as well, I asked. "Aamir is wicked! He has a wicked sense of humour. Infact I have no fond memories of Aamir! He was a pain in the ass when I was a kid! He didn't miss any opportunity to tease me, rag me, and harass me. We became friends only when I turned 13. Recently, after we saw my film, I told Aamir that I am better than what he was in QSQT. In return, he laughed at me and said, 'What nonsense! You have made a good start but you have a long way to go'. He treats me like a kid but tells others that I am better than him!"

In typical Aamir fashion, as an after thought (post a brief pause) he added, "My life has always been remote from Aamir's. My confidence that surprised you comes from my background. I was born in Madison city, US. Later, had to shift to Mumbai when I was barely 1 years of age as my parents got divorced. Once in Mumbai, I studied in Bombay Scottish, till IV Std and later changed 7 different schools in Bangalore, Ooty and finally California! I didn't go to a college but went to a film school in LA. When you are always the new kid in the class you sort of develop a thick skin as you are left with no friends. I am just a 25-year-old but have always been kind of old for my age. I am known as a 'grandpa' in my gang" grinned Imran.

So was it an enjoyable experience for grandpa to work in a youth-oriented film? "I remember Abbas narrating me the script. I instantly identified with the role he had offered me. Jai in JTYJN is not a classic Hindi film hero with large muscles or belonging to a rich family. He doesn't even have a motor cycle. He doesn't have any heroic qualities and is yet very interesting. He is not boring. In fact I am very much like Jai and the film is quite a lot my real life love story! I know my girlfriend Avantika for the past six years and initially even we were not able to figure out if we were in a relationship! We met through mutual friends and didn't realize when we fell in love!

Imran's acting skills have been getting positive response from all but can he shake his leg like his arch rivals Ranbir and Harman? "Ranbir and Harman are much better dancers than me. I am no where in the same league as them! All I can say is I have tried to infuse reality in my performances not just in JTYJN but also in Kidnap and Luck which are my forthcoming films", said Imran making me believe he is here to act and doing nothing else.

If Harman reminds me of Hrithik, Imran too bears an uncanny resemblance to his illustrious uncle... only 4th July will decide who wins the battle – a Hrithik-esque dancer and gorgeous looker Harman or smart, no-nonsense, guy-next-door Imran who has inherited perfection from Aamir! The race begins...

Source: indiatimes