Actor Imran Khan recently hit the headlines after he claimed that Vishal Bhardwaj cast him in the 2013 film ‘Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola’ for ‘dishonest’ reasons. He claimed that while Ajay Devgn was the first
choice for the role, Bhardwaj chose to cast Imran only because he wanted to get a bigger budget for his film. He said that the filmmaker didn’t truly believe in the choice, and he could feel that from the very first day of the shoot. Now, after a video clip of Imran’s claim went viral on social media, the actor has explained his statement, and said it was important to add proper context to his remarks. He said that he still regards Vishal Bhardwaj as a quality filmmaker, and remains proud to have been part of Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola. He clarified that his intention was not to blame Vishal Bhardwaj personally, but to share his experience and shed light on how projects are cast and greenlit in the film industry.
Imran Khan Clarifies ‘Dishonest’ Casting Remark About Vishal Bhardwaj
Imran Khan has reacted to a viral reel which showed him accusing Vishal Bhardwaj of casting him in Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola for ‘dishonest’ reasons. In his comment, Imran explained the context, and wrote, “I think it’s important to add context; I still think VB is a quality filmmaker and I respect his commitment to making original films that challenge the mainstream. I am proud to have been a part of MKBKM, which I consider to be a film with an important and valuable message.”
He further added, “The director-actor relationship is a key element of moviemaking, and not all relationships are in sync. I told this story not to cast blame, but to describe my experience and provide context for the making of the film (which I think adds interesting insight)… and also to use myself as an example to discuss the way projects are cast and greenlit in the industry.” Check out his comment below!
Meanwhile, a netizen commented on the reel and wrote, “I like the guy…But sadly he’s not an actor.” Imran replied, “Thanks bro…still trying my best.”
What Did Imran Khan Say About Vishal Bhardwaj?
Speaking on Unfiltered by Samdish, Imran said, “I did a film called Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola. The idea of casting me as a Haryanvi villager is very left-field casting. It was only in the aftermath that I understood how the film came about. Ajay Devgn was originally attached to the film, and they had started preparations.”
“Somewhere during that stage, he backed out. Vishal was very excited about the project as it was a passion project for him. I was coming off a couple of hits like Delhi Belly and Mere Brother Ki Dulhan, so he cast me not because I was the perfect actor for the part, but because with me attached, he could get a certain budget to make the film,” he said.
The actor said, “The approach to casting is all based on budget. It has nothing to do with the actor. Nobody cares whether you’re the right actor for the role. They’re just thinking, ‘How much money can I get with him?’ That’s how I ended up being cast in Matru. On my back, they could get an X amount of money. As an actor, you get excited thinking, ‘Vishal Bhardwaj is calling me.’ It feels daunting and challenging, but you think you’ll give it your best.”
Imran Khan said, “This is my extra psychoanalysis and perspective… I believe he cast me for a dishonest reason, not a truthful creative one. And once it was done, I think he felt a kind of creative dishonesty, that he had made a choice he didn’t fully believe in. I could feel that from the very first day of the shoot. He never said anything beyond ‘action’ and ‘cut’ to me. There was no bond. It was the most lonely film I have ever made. He left me with ‘jo karna hai karo’.”
Apart from Imran, Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola starred Anushka Sharma, Pankaj Kapur, Shabana Azmi and Aarya Babbar. The film was released on 11 January, 2013.
