BRIDGING THE GAP

IMRAN KHAN OPENS TO JITESH PILLAAI UP ON BOND WITH AAMIR KHAN, MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLES AND LIFE AS A SINGLE FATHER

- PHOTOGRAPHS: ABHAY SINGH

Imran Khan's debut back in 2008 was nothing short of a sparkling success. He totally won hearts with his charming and sweet persona as Jai Singh Rathore in the rom-com Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na. It was one of those films that just clicked instantly with the audience. From that moment on, Imran pretty much carved out his niche in the rom-com genre, starring in light-hearted hits like Break Ke Baad, Mere Brother Ki Dulhan and Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu. But he wasn't just about bubbly romances; he also showed off his versatility with the dark comedy Delhi Belly, which was a breath of fresh air and definitely proved he could handle edgy, offbeat roles. However, after his 2015 film Katti Batti, fans were left scratching their heads, wondering why he suddenly vanished from the limelight. What exactly happened? In our candid conversation, Imran opens up about some very personal struggles behind the scenes, including his journey with mental health. He speaks honestly about how navigating those challenges impacted both his career and personal life. On top of that, he was a single father coping with the pains of separation. Balancing fatherhood with everything else hasn’t been easy. But it’s clearly shaped him in profound ways. So while he might have stepped back from films for a while, it’s clear that Imran's story is far from over. He’s raring to make a comeback and prove that there’s more to him than first onscreen charm...

What is the best and worst piece of advice, say Aamir Khan or Mansoor Khan have given you?

Those guys never gave me any advice, man. Mansoor mamu was too busy making cheese up in the hills.

Mansoor was such a fine filmmaker and human being. Don’t you think he gave up too soon?

It’s a family problem. Every so often, we need to run off and disappear into the mountains. You meditate, you learn Kung fu and then you come back. It is the family approach.