Imtiaz Ali Opens Up about His Apprehension in Working with Amitabh Bachchan; Remembers Saying ‘I Will Greet Him from Afar’
Imtiaz Ali, known for directing Diljit Dosanjh and Parineeti Chopra in Amar Singh Chamkila earlier this year, rose to fame in Bollywood with the success of Jab We Met (2007). Despite many actors and filmmakers aspiring to work with Amitabh Bachchan, Imtiaz initially hesitated to collaborate with the iconic actor, expressing his fear in a recent interview with MidDay. He admired Bachchan from a distance, considering him too big of a star similar to Shah Rukh Khan’s stardom but even more significant. Imtiaz reminisced about the wild excitement and frenzy Bachchan’s presence would create amongst audiences, recalling a particular incident during the screening of Bachchan’s film Geraftaar in 1985.
Although yet to work together on a film, Imtiaz Ali received a letter of appreciation from Amitabh Bachchan after the release of Rockstar in 2011, where Bachchan praised the film and noted the completion timing. The two did collaborate on a TV commercial in the past, as showcased in a heartwarming Instagram post by Imtiaz, depicting a warm hug shared between the director and the megastar.
Aside from his work on projects like Tamasha, Love Aaj Kal, and Jab Harry Met Sejal, Imtiaz Ali’s admiration for Bachchan as a person and artist continues to grow, highlighting the reverence he holds for the legendary actor.
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