Imran Khan’s lucky mascot?

Wife Avantika makes her third appearance in actor-husband’s films, will be seen in Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu

After appearing in two of Imran Khan’s hit films — Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Naa (2008) and I Hate Luv Storys (2010) — the actor’s wife, Avantika is set for a hat trick with a scene in his upcoming Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu.

Ask Imran if he considers Avantika his lucky mascot and he brushes it aside, terming it an insider’s joke, adding, “For me, it is about making a scene or a film more personal.”

It was director Shakun Batra and his co-writer Ayesha Devitre’s idea to bring in not just Avantika, but four other friends including Ayesha herself. “They appear in the ‘Auntyji…’ song, playing the band. Even Delhi Belly (2011) writer Akshat Verma, will be seen in the film. We are all good friends and it brings a smile to our faces when you spot a familiar face on the screen. The audiences might not get that but these appearances are memories for us. It is a personal joke for us.”

Avantika will be seen in the song during lyrics that read, ‘Smile abhi bhi hai million dollars Auntyji… Imran adds, “Half the people who get it will recognise her and other half won’t as she plays a guest in the song. She earlier appeared in two films, which were very personal for me as the directors, Abbas Tyrewala and Punit Malhotra are my good friends.”

Avantika was unavailable for comment, though she can be seen talking about her experience in the making of the song.

Meanwhile, Imran has grown a beard for his next film, Vishal Bhardwaj’s Matru Ki Bijli Ka Mandola, which, he says, his wife didn’t like at first: “She was not too happy about it, but she’s now begun to like it.” The look for the character hasn’t been locked yet and soon, he will work with the team to zero in on the exact look.