Imran Khan won’t ‘let the fear of backlash restrict’ him from speaking his truth; actor stands by his accusations against Vishal Bhardwaj

Now, in a conversation with Hindustan Times, Imran spoke about his comments about Vishal Bhardwaj and said that he stands by his words. “I won’t say something that I don’t stand by. To let the fear of backlash restrict you from speaking your truth or anything of interest is no good. Today, everyone is following some sort of prescribed script that you are told will be well-received. At the same time, I don’t think the idea is to offend people, I’m pointing the lens at myself and sharing my experience,” he said.

Also Read: After accusing Vishal Bhardwaj of ‘dishonest casting’, Imran Khan says he wanted ‘to show how projects are greenlit in industry’

Imran Khan accused Vishal Bhardwaj of casting him for ‘dishonest reasons’

In an earlier interview with Samdish Bhatia, Imran had said, “I did a film called Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola. The idea of casting me as a Haryanvi villager is very left-field casting. It was only in the aftermath that I understood how the film came about. Ajay Devgn was originally attached to the film, and they had started preparations. Somewhere during that stage, he backed out. I was coming off a couple of hits like Delhi Belly and Mere Brother Ki Dulhan, so he cast me not because I was the perfect actor for the part, but because with me attached, he could get a certain budget to make the film.”

“The approach to casting is all based on budget. It has nothing to do with the actor. Nobody cares whether you’re the right actor for the role. They’re just thinking, ‘How much money can I get with him?’ That’s how I ended up being cast in Matru. I believe he cast me for a dishonest reason, not a truthful, creative one. And once it was done, I think he felt a kind of creative dishonesty, that he had made a choice he didn’t fully believe in. I could feel that from the very first day of the shoot. He never said anything beyond ‘action’ and ‘cut’ to me. There was no bond. It was the loneliest film I have ever made. He left me with ‘jo karna hai karo’,” Imran had said.

After the conversation started making headlines, Imran clarified via social media, “I think it’s important to add context; I still think VB is a quality filmmaker and I respect his commitment to making original films that challenge the mainstream. I am proud to have been a part of MKBKM, which I consider to be a film with an important and valuable message. The director-actor relationship is a key element of moviemaking, and not all relationships are in sync. I told this story not to cast blame, but to describe my experience and provide context for the making of the film (which I think adds interesting insight)… and also to use myself as an example to discuss the way projects are cast and greenlit in the industry.”

Imran Khan’s upcoming project

Imran Khan is all set to make his comeback in Bollywood with Adhoore Hum Adhoore Tum. The film also stars Bhumi Pednekar and Gurfateh Pirzada. Talking about the film, Imran told HT, “Adhoore Hum Adhoore Tum is a character story approached from where I’m in my life. I’m a divorced man in my 40s and a parent, a story with such shades is what makes it interesting to me.”

He also weighed in on the idea of not having a PR machinery. Sharing his views on the same, Imran added, “I have worked at a time when I had a PR and a manager. Having had a taste of it and knowing what it brings to your world, I now don’t want those things. I don’t want a manager who will go out there and look for work for me. The manager’s pay percentage depends on keeping me steadily employed, because of which he may push me to do things I don’t want to. I don’t want them to find work for me; I want to find my work. Engaging in the PR game is a full-time job; it takes hours every day sitting with the PR team, planning strategies, and reviewing the results. Because of how much everyone does it, the public is aware of it. Now the public looks at everything without speculation. Is this a PR stunt? What is the angle behind it? I’d rather work at my own pace.”

Imran will also be seen in a cameo in Aamir Khan’s production Happy Patel Khatarnak Jasoos, starring Vir Das.