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Those who wait often get good things– and sometimes even a fatter paycheck. That’s exactly what happened with filmmaker Imtiaz Ali, whose Jab We Met actor Shahid Kapoor advised him not to fix his direction fee after their romantic comedy co-starring Kareena Kapoor became successful. Imtiaz, who had made only one film, Socha Na Tha, before Jab We Met, was told by Shahid Kapoor to wait till the film becomes a bigger success and then quote the fee for his next directorial.
In an interview for Sit with Hitlist, journalist Mayank Shekhar recalled Shahid telling him how Imtiaz had gone to narrate him Jab We Met, when it was titled ‘Geet.’ Shahid had advised Imtiaz that the next hero he approaches, he better change the name because no one will be in a film where the title is on the heroine’s name.
Imtiaz laughed and said, “I do remember that incident. Shahid has guided me quite a lot. He also told me significantly–one that I never forget and always thank him for–that Jab We Met had worked, so I shouldn’t fix my fee for the next film I make. ‘Because I feel this film is climbing, so, don’t fix your price now,’ he had said.
“I told him that I was thinking I can ask for x number of lakhs after this film and he said, ‘Yes, maybe you will get twice that amount and who knows maybe you will get Rs 1 cr also.’ He repeatedly kept telling me that that I shouldn’t fix my price.”
The filmmaker recalled how Shahid told him that Imtiaz should sign his next film, but “don’t fix your price without calling me.” Imtiaz laughed as he revealed why the actor was so concerned about him, “Because he thought I was stupid, log mera bewakoof bana dege yaha pe. So, Shahid is like my self appointed guide.”
Imtiaz Ali’s next film was Saif Ali Khan-Deepika Padukone starrer Love Aaj Kal, which was backed by Dinesh Vijan. “But I waited, and Dinoo (Dinesh Vijan) suffered. He will never forget it. He told me, ‘Sir the number you quoted my head hit the roof!’ I said, blame Shahid Kapoor for this.'”
After a few misfires, Imtiaz Ali made a strong return to glory with this year’s Amar Singh Chamkila headlined by Diljit Dosanjh. Dinesh Vijay, meanwhile, is currently basking in the historic success of his latest production Stree 2 starring Shraddha Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao.
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