I am too confused with success of Jaane Tu...: Imran 14 Jul 2008 | 238 Views | admin
Rajdeep Sardesai
Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na might have been a smashing hit at the box office but actor Imraan Khan is still waiting for success to sink in.
Although his breezy love story and his electrifying on-screen chemistry might have struck the right chord with the audience in his debut, the actor seems to be still grappling with his newfound stardom.
The new kid on the Bollywood block - Imraan khan talks to CNN-IBN’s Editor-in-Chief Rajdeep Sardesai in an exclusive interview.
CNN-IBN: In a week's time, you have become a bit of a star particularly among girls from the age group of 11 to 25 years. Are you surprised by it all?
Imraan Khan: Yes, I am surprised. I am quite surprised actually. To tell you the truth, we never expected the film to turn into what it has. When we were making it, it was quite a small film. It was a small crew. We were mostly first timers. We really hoped that people liked the film but for it to take on the way it has, we are all very surprised by it.
CNN-IBN: Is it the return of the chocolate boy hero image and the return of the softer film genre, which somehow captures the imagination of teenagers perhaps better than what other films have done in the past.
Imraan Khan: I don’t think it is this genre. I hate this chocolate boy thing. Overall, I think the film has managed to connect well with younger people, which is what we wanted to do. We wanted to make a film that tells a story of young people and which is made by young people. And I think we managed to connect.
CNN-IBN: It is in a sense what Aamir did with Dil Chahta Hai. You hate being called a chocolate boy hero. Is it going to be a trap? Is that what you are worried about?
Imraan Khan: I am not really worried about a trap. I am generally not fond of labels of any kind.
CNN-IBN: There will be those who will say that one reason why Imraan has succeeded unlike some others is because he has a backing of the biggest Bollywood families which includes Aamir Khan and Mansoor Khan. How much of a difference has that made. Will you have to prove yourself yet again in the next film without Aamir Khan's backing?
Imraan Khan: I think it does make a tremendous difference. It is great goodwill that the audience has for Aamir. He spent a long time cultivating it and people have a lot of faith in him and that gives a certain amount of backing. It will give you a bit of a run but beyond that for a film to sustain, or for me to sustain, it really will come down to me and the film itself.
CNN-IBN: I am asking you this because with time, we have had a lot of one-film heroes, one-film hits. Take Kumar Gaurav for instance. Love story was a huge success but Kumar Gaurav was caught in the chocolate hero syndrome. Does that worry you or are you not looking at the future at the moment? You are just enjoying the present success?
Imraan Khan: I am not really enjoying the success at present. I am too confused by it all. But again, I don't worry about things that are not in my control.
"As actors, we all want our audience to like our work; so even if you ask me this question after five years I will say yes I want to work harder and harder to be loved by my audience."
~ Imran Khan
