Yashraj bets on Imran Khan

It’s been barely three years since his debut, Jaane Tu.. Ya Jaane Naa catapulted him to stardom. And Mere Brother Ki Dulhan, his first outing with Yash Raj Films (YRF), is yet to reach the cinemas.

But it seems that actor Imran Khan, would’ve become the new blue-eyed boy of the Chopras. Producer Aditya Chopra has offered the actor five scripts, including one he’s written himself, to choose from for his next film with them.

A crewmember with YRF says Aditya is extremely pleased with Khan’s performance in Mere Brother Ki Dulhan. “Having also seen Imran’s performance in I Hate Luv Storys (2010) previously, Adi feels he should further consolidate his position in romcoms,” says the crewmember, adding, “That’s why he has given Imran five scripts, including one authored by him, to pick as his next film with YRF.”

Years ago, when Aditya started on his path to become the Czar of YRF with Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (1995), his directorial debut’s unprecedented success turned Shah Rukh Khan into Bollywood’s first major star overseas. “It seems that after SRK, Aditya is backing Imran the most from among his contemporaries,” points the source.

On his part, Khan concedes that he’s still very new to the industry with only a handful of films to his credit. At the same time, he admits, “Adi is someone I look up to and take advice from. Karan (Johar) is also someone whom I’m extremely close to.”

Shrugging off being heralded as the prince of romance, the actor maintains, “I don’t know about being anyone’s blue eyed-boy, but it does feel good when my work is appreciated and filmmakers show confidence in me.”

Khan adds that this confidence helps him work harder to live up to expectations. As for being given the liberty by the Chopras to choose from many scripts, he says, “When they think I suit the character in their scripts and can deliver performances, the actor in me is fuelled by enthusiasm.”

Khan’s closest competitor, friend and actor Ranbir Kapoor, on the other hand is only doing Ayan Mukherjee’s film for Johar’s Dharma Productions, besides exploring diverse genres with films like Imtiaz Ali’s Rockstar, Anurag Basu’s Barfee and a biopic on Kishore Kumar.