Happy Birthday Imtiaz Ali! Director who changed the wind of the Bollywood Industry
Imtiaz Ali, the name in itself has become a brand in the Bollywood industry, as well as amongst the audience. You automatically set your hopes high when you hear that it’s an Imtiaz Ali film. There are many actors who are still waiting to do an Imtiaz Ali Film, including upcoming stars. There have been many actors who have confessed that working on Imtiaz’s movie is like a checkbox for them; which they would like to check right soon.
He has come a long way, from the world of Television to the big screens; Imtiaz has had a long journey to where he is today. Completing almost 16 years in Bollywood, he has given us some classics for a lifetime now.
Imtiaz Ali, a new beginning :
Ali started his career as a writer and director of Indian Television series. He has worked on Imtehaan(Doordarshan), Naina and Kurukshetra(Zee TV) in the early 2000s. Imtiaz made his Bollywood debut as an actor in Black Friday(2004) and his directorial debut with Socha na tha(2005). Socha na tha starred Abhay Deol and Ayesha Takia, he also revealed that it took him three years to complete the film. It didn’t do well commercially, but it is said to have received critically positive reviews.
He then released his next, Jab We Met(2007) starring the then-couple Kareena Kapoor and Shahid Kapoor in the lead. It was a blockbuster, and is till date one of the most loved movies of all time. It is one of those movies which can be labelled as a cult film amongst the youth. His next films, Love Aaj Kal(2009) and Rockstar(2011) helped him become the brand that he is today. Love Aaj Kal stars Saif Ali Khan and Deepika Padukone in the leas; and Rockstar stars Ranbir Kapoor and Nargis Fakhri. Although the latter movie received mixed reviews from the audience, but it is also one of his best works.
A Rough Patch in between for Imtiaz?
With Three hits back to back as a director, there came a time when his movies started receiving mixed reviews or didn’t work out as planned; including Tamasha(2015) and Jab Harry Met Sejal(2017). Although Highway was highly appreciated by the critics as well as its audience for its writing, direction and performance by the leads. It starred Alia Bhatt and Randeep Hooda in the lead; and Highway is considered his best work till date.
Furthermore, there were some movies which were written by him, but Imtiaz never directed them. These movies include Ahista Ahista(2006), Cocktail(2011) and Laila Majnu(2018). Cocktail is the second collaboration of Saif Ali Khan and Deepika Padukone with Imtiaz Ali, although he was the writer and not the director. It also marks the debut of model Diana Penty. Laila Majnu was directed by Sajid Ali, and written by Imtiaz. It didn’t work out well in the Box office, but the performance of both the lead debutante was positive and high appreciation. Avinash Tiwari stole the show with his amazing in-depth portrayal of the “Majnu”, and the story penned by Imtiaz will bring you to tears.
Imtiaz lost his chance at becoming an actor?
Imtiaz Ali has never went to a film school and during his days in Jamshedpur(his hometown) directing films wasn’t a career option. In fact Imtiaz revealed while addressing an audience that no one should follow his footsteps because his journey is quite exceptional. He never took the long way out by becoming an assistant director or anything of that sort to become a mainstream director. Things just started falling in place, and it began when he started directing Imtihaan.
He also says that there was a time that he did theatre, but he never pursued acting as a mainstream career option. He believes that “life giving you opportunities to learn in ways you don’t expect.” He also labels himself at times as an “accidental director”.
Imtiaz Ali : A Brand?
Imtiaz Ali is not only a director, but he is also a producer and editor as well. He made his debut as a producer with his best till date, Highway. And he is one of those directors, who has received nominations on many occasions for his work; and his films have bagged several awards and nominations too. One of the most common thing about Imtiaz Ali’s movies are that they have an amazing soundtrack. Almost every movie that he has worked on has memorable and have become all time favourites. Most popular soundtracks are of Jab We Met, Rockstar, Tamasha and Love Aaj Kal.
We wish him more successes ahead and a very happy birthday!
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