By Aveek Bhowmik

Aamir Khan’s nephew Imran Khan talks to AVEEK BHOWMIK about his girlfriend, ‘identifying’ with Shah Rukh Khan and his ‘competitor’ Harman Baweja

It’s just two weeks to go to the release of Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na and debutante Imran Khan presents a picture of a composed, confident man.

He is a study in contrast from his uncle Aamir Khan, who had mentioned in his blog a few days ago, that he had started smoking to combat the pre-release stress. Imran is quick to answer, “Maybe as I grow older, even I would be prone to such bouts of nervousness. For the moment, I am quite relaxed and calm.”

Jaane Tu… is a campus romance. It’s about youngsters in college and their lives just after college. So will it touch a chord with the older audience? “The film is about young love and ultimately how the relationship matures. So when young people watch it, they would easily relate to the emotions, and older people would definitely get nostalgic about their younger days,” says Imran.

Imran and Abbas Tyrewala, who makes his directorial debut with the film, had to face the test of convincing Aamir to be a part of the project. However, it was not as difficult as they had thought.

“Abbas and I had gone to narrate the script to Aamir. He heard us out. We had even recorded a couple of songs, including Kabhi Kabhi Aditi, which we played out before Aamir. After hearing the narration and listening to the songs, his reaction was, ‘I like it. I am with you’.”

However, Aamir then began directing Taare Zameen Par (TZP). He felt that he wouldn’t be able to give attention to Jaane Tu… as his focus was on TZP. So Aamir got in touch with his cousin Mansoor Khan as he felt that he was the only one whom he could rely on. That’s how Mansoor, Imran’s other uncle, came on board and Jaane Na… finally took off.

Imran was an assistant director earlier. When asked him about that one role he wished he had done, comes the prompt reply, “I wish I had done Shah Rukh Khan’s role in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge.”

So doesn’t he have any favourites from his uncle Aamir’s films? Imran pauses for a while before saying, “The character he plays in 1947 Earth was one of his best performances. It’s just brilliant. But on a personal level, Shah Rukh’s DDLJ character would have been a lot more fun to play.”

Jaane Tu… releases on the same day as Love Story 2050, starring another newcomer Harman Baweja. There are bound to comparisons and expectations. However, Imran isn’t too perturbed by all this.

“There have been numerous instances when movies of two actors have released on same days. I only have to say that each actor has his distinct style. So there will be an audience for every kind of film.”

Imran has also been forthcoming about his girlfriend of six years Avantika. However, this reminds of Aamir, who had actually shielded the fact that he was married from the media. So how come Imran has been so frank about his girlfriend? “For me, to hide my girlfriend is a dishonest thing. That way I would be demeaning that person. If someone has a girlfriend and is ashamed of that, he’d rather not have one. Having a girlfriend doesn’t mean that my film will not do well. So what’s the point in lying?” he asks.