Imtiaz Ali, a renowned Bollywood director, opened up about his decision to create the film “Jab Harry Met Sejal,” despite it not achieving much success. This romantic comedy, starring Shah Rukh Khan and Anushka Sharma, received negative reviews and performed poorly both critically and financially, contributing to Shah Rukh Khan’s series of unsuccessful movies.
In an interview, Imtiaz Ali revealed that he deliberately aimed to make an “ordinary” film this time. He explained that this choice was influenced by his desire to step away from his intellectual director image, which he gained after working on films like Tamasha. By opting for a simpler storyline and approach, he wanted to break away from the label of being an “intellectual” director and explore a different style of storytelling.
Imtiaz Ali addresses audience perception before making of Jab Harry met Sejal
Imtiaz Ali shared his thoughts about the change in people’s perception of him after the release of the film Tamasha during a recent conversation on Roshan Abbas’s Stumble Podcast. He expressed that after Tamasha, there was a shift in how the audience viewed him. People began taking him more seriously as a filmmaker. However, this newfound seriousness came with its challenges.
According to Ali, some individuals started assuming that if they didn’t understand Tamasha, it was because they lacked intelligence. He found himself in a situation where his film was being discussed in a context that felt exclusive, as if it were a conversation in a club he wouldn’t be allowed to enter. This made him uncomfortable, as he didn’t want his work to be perceived as something only meant for an elite intellectual audience.
Feeling disconnected from this perception, Ali made a conscious decision. He decided to create a movie that would break away from the intellectual mold. His aim was to make a film that could resonate with a broader audience, bridging the gap between the so-called intellectual elite and the general public. By choosing a different path for his creative endeavors, Ali sought to make his work more accessible and relatable to a wider range of viewers.
Imtiaz Ali’s insights into making of ‘Jab Harry Met Sejal’
In continuation with the conversation, he further elaborated on the reasons behind creating the movie “Jab Harry Met Sejal” featuring Shah Rukh Khan and Anushka Sharma. He expressed his intention to craft a film that was straightforward and uncomplicated. He believed that amidst his previous works, this movie could serve as an example of his versatility, demonstrating that he could produce a film that didn’t require deep thinking. Despite his initial vision, he acknowledged that there were areas where he could have improved the film in hindsight. He playfully mentioned the audience’s confusion, highlighting how some viewers found it difficult to comprehend the storyline, which added an interesting layer to the reception of the movie.
