Chocolate boy Imran Khan may have won hearts with films like Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na, 'Delhi Belly' and 'I Hate Luv Storys' with his fun-loving, simple characters.
But his next film, Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola, where he plays a bearded Haryanvi Jat, has been his toughest role so far.
"For a different look or character, it's not so much what you feel about it. As an actor, you're inherently excited by it — the reason we do it is because we get to be someone else. There are some films in which the transformation isn't too hard, but this was the hardest thing I've done," confesses Imran. "I had to learn a new language, my voice and body language changed and I stayed in Delhi to train under theatre coach N K Sharma for three months," he tells Metrolife.
This being his first film with director Vishal Bhardwaj, there were plenty of learning opportunities as an actor. "As a director, he's remarkably open. I had expected a lot more input from him, on how he wanted scenes to shape up. But when he saw that I'd grasped the character of Matru, he gave me a surprising amount of freedom. There was a day when I was fumbling and I asked for five minutes to work out the scene in my head and he just said 'Do something good. I trust you'," shares the young actor.
He adds, "He puts the responsibility of your performance in your hands. The process is about empowering the actor and I've not had that luxury before. It's very scary but it's fulfilling — you go home at the end of the day feeling like you've conquered the world."
While he has taken up youthful roles so far, serious characters are now being offered to him. "It's all a function of how you look. I'm 29 and till now, I got offers for younger roles. This is my first 'grown-up role'," says the excited Imran, adding that he is presently working in Milan Luthria's sequel to 'Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai'.
As an actor, what does he look for in a script before taking it up? "The one thing that you have to get into your head very early is that nobody knows anything about how a film will turn out. So, the only thing I can go by is whether I would watch the film or not," he shares.
Bangalore is not unfamiliar territory to the actor, who has lived here in the past. "I was here during the last few years of my school life. But I think it was probably the most interesting part of my life because it's that point where you start figuring out who you are and start deciding things for yourself. I think the City had a big part to play in that," smiles the 29-year-old.
But his next film, Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola, where he plays a bearded Haryanvi Jat, has been his toughest role so far.
"For a different look or character, it's not so much what you feel about it. As an actor, you're inherently excited by it — the reason we do it is because we get to be someone else. There are some films in which the transformation isn't too hard, but this was the hardest thing I've done," confesses Imran. "I had to learn a new language, my voice and body language changed and I stayed in Delhi to train under theatre coach N K Sharma for three months," he tells Metrolife.
This being his first film with director Vishal Bhardwaj, there were plenty of learning opportunities as an actor. "As a director, he's remarkably open. I had expected a lot more input from him, on how he wanted scenes to shape up. But when he saw that I'd grasped the character of Matru, he gave me a surprising amount of freedom. There was a day when I was fumbling and I asked for five minutes to work out the scene in my head and he just said 'Do something good. I trust you'," shares the young actor.
He adds, "He puts the responsibility of your performance in your hands. The process is about empowering the actor and I've not had that luxury before. It's very scary but it's fulfilling — you go home at the end of the day feeling like you've conquered the world."
While he has taken up youthful roles so far, serious characters are now being offered to him. "It's all a function of how you look. I'm 29 and till now, I got offers for younger roles. This is my first 'grown-up role'," says the excited Imran, adding that he is presently working in Milan Luthria's sequel to 'Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai'.
As an actor, what does he look for in a script before taking it up? "The one thing that you have to get into your head very early is that nobody knows anything about how a film will turn out. So, the only thing I can go by is whether I would watch the film or not," he shares.
Bangalore is not unfamiliar territory to the actor, who has lived here in the past. "I was here during the last few years of my school life. But I think it was probably the most interesting part of my life because it's that point where you start figuring out who you are and start deciding things for yourself. I think the City had a big part to play in that," smiles the 29-year-old.