Imran Khan opens up about his role in Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola, saying he was cast for budget reasons rather than talent. He calls Vishal Bhardwaj’s casting decision dishonest, revealing Ajay Devgn was the original choice for the film
Imran Khan
Bollywood actor Imran Khan, who has been on a long hiatus and away from the spotlight, is currently in the news ahead of his comeback. One of his renowned films includes Vishal Bhardwaj’s Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola. Reflecting on the film’s lukewarm response, Imran recalls how the filmmaker cast him for a dishonest reason. He went on to reveal that Ajay Devgn was the first choice for the film.
Imran Khan on his casting in Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola
Speaking on Unfiltered by Samdish, Imran 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. Vishal was very excited about the project as it was a passion project for him. 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,” he said.
The actor added, “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. On my back, they could get an X amount of money. As an actor, you get excited thinking, ‘Vishal Bhardwaj is calling me.’ It feels daunting and challenging, but you think you’ll give it your best. I believe he cast me for a dishonest reason, not a truthful creative one. He never said anything beyond ‘action’ and ‘cut’ to me.”
About Imran Khan’s comeback
Imran has not acted in any project since the 2015 film Katti Batti. He is all set to make a comeback with a Netflix film, directed by Danish Aslam. It is going to be a rom-com with Bhumi Pednekar.
Talking about the project, Imran told HT City, "It's just the film we should make 15 years later. This is very much a personal project that came from the creative urge of wanting to tell a story and working with dear friends. The shoot is complete, and it's in post-production. We are looking at releasing it once the streaming platform decides on the date."
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