From debuting with the role of a regular college-going boy in Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na (2008) to playing a rebellious villager in Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola, Imran Khan has come a long way. And now, with Tigmanshu Dhulia’s next film, Milan Talkies, the actor is set to essay the role of a small-town
filmmaker. Explaining Imran’s character in his film, Tigmanshu tells us that unlike Matru, this role is that of a regular guy-next-door. “He is not rugged, just carefree,” says the director.
The maker further insists that although there is a romantic track in the film between Imran and the female lead Priyanka Chopra, it primarily focuses on the subject of the video film-making culture that has developed in small towns. “The characters are almost set on the lines of those in Malegaon Ka Superman (2012). They make films for video parlours or cable TV and make money,” says Tigmanshu.
Ask him why he often chooses to base his stories in small towns, and the director says, “Somehow, I feel that in the bigger cities, corporates have stepped in and killed the very concept of risk-taking. However, that is still prevalent in the small towns, which I find very exciting.”
Tigmanshu, who is currently busy shooting for his next action film Bullet Raja with Saif Ali Khan and Sonakshi Sinha and also finishing the promotions of Sahib Biwi Aur Gangster Returns, is planning to start shooting the Imran Priyanka-starrer by the end of this year.