Film industry is very misrepresented: Imtiaz Ali

Imtiaz Ali speaks to us about movie clashes, handling sensitive topics such as the partition, trolling and more 

Murtuza Iqbal

Imtiaz Ali is gearing up for the release of his next directorial, Main Vaapas Aaunga, which stars Diljit Dosanjh, Naseeruddin Shah, Sharvari, and Vedang Raina. The Free Press Journal recently interacted with Imtiaz and spoke to him about the movie, box office clash, Alia Bhatt, and more.

When it comes to the romance genre in Bollywood, the first name that comes to our mind is Imtiaz Ali. The romance in Jab We Met was different; then there was Love Aaj Kal, and now Main Vaapas Aaunga; how difficult is it for you as a filmmaker to present love differently every time?

Well, I'm not trying to present love at all as a filmmaker. I'm just compelled to tell a certain story that comes to my mind. And I think because of the way I am, or what interests me, it turns out to be something which is later judged to be a love story. I'm not doing it deliberately. I'm not trying to hold it back either. It's just going in that direction. I'm not taking the pressure of trying to present a love story at all. In fact, when I wrote Jab We Met, I was sure this was not a love story. I thought it was more about character transformation, more about somebody becoming somebody else, and that somebody else becoming somebody, like exchanging characters. But I'm no one to actually categorize movies. I think it's the audience that decides the genre that they have to fall into. Love Aaj Kal was, of course, called Love Aaj Kal. But even that, for me, was about how distance plays a role in a relationship. So every story that I've written, I have written thinking this is a story, not a love story. It then turns out to be called a love story, but I'm not taking the pressure.

Main Vaapas Aaunga is set against the backdrop of Partition. So, were you 

cautious while making the film, as in today's social media era, celebrities get trolled a lot, and things might trigger people?

Can you believe that the only film that I have gone to court for was Jab We Met? What could be the controversy? I have made other films that could have been controversial, but for Jab We Met, I went to court; there was a non-bailable warrant against me. I would have gone to prison. Because someone in Ratlam made a complaint against me that I have defamed the city,iwhich was famous for chivda, fafda, and khakra, and shown it as a place for prostitution. So, the moral of the story is that any arrow can come from any side, and you can't stop walking on the street because of that. But as a filmmaker, I realise that I have far too much power, and it has to be managed. So, there's a sense of responsibility that comes, and to the best of my intelligence, I should not try to hurt anyone. If there's an agenda, I should know it and remove it from the story because it will weaken the story as well. So, this particular film, when you watch it, you will realise it is not about or against anything at all. It is a very personal story of a person, and I was very sure that this is my intent, so there's no problem. Even in Amar Singh Chamkila, which could have been as controversial as Chamkila was, the poor guy was killed, and now, those forces are still around. I was clear that there's no intent to hurt the sentiments of anybody. With that intent, you have to go forward, and uske upar toh fir bhagwan maalik hai.

When the release date of Main Vaapas Aaunga was announced, it was the only release on June 12, 2026. But now, Kangana Ranaut-starrer Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata, Manoj Bajpayee's Governor: The Silent Saviour, and Vikram Bhatt's Haunted 3D: Echoes of the Past are also slated to release on the same date. So, what's your take on this four-way clash?

These things are not in control. We announced first. Usually, in the film industry, there's a kind of bhaichara like, 'meri film aarahi hai toh tu mat aa, next baar aaja' and that kind of thing, and it usually works. This is the first time I am hearing that other movies are also coming out on that day. But, if that is going to be the case, then so be it. There are only 52 weeks, and there are more than 52 films that are released every year. So, this is bound to happen.

Alia Bhatt shared a video on the song Maskara. What do you have to say about the support that she is giving your film?

The film industry is very misrepresented. Itne hum log mean hai hie nahi. Look at what she has done. She has no reason to. The fact is that she felt like. It is not like she has just sent a forward. She did something. All of us are a part of this surrogate family situation; all of us are drifters and dreamers; all of us want to make great films, want our films to succeed, and want other people to also prosper and thrive. We want to show our love to each other as well. What she has done will actually be a representative of how the film industry is! Actually, there's a lot of love that people have for each other.

Main Vaapas Aaunga is slated to release on June 12, 2026.