Imtiaz Ali says Highway is his dream film
New Delhi:
Over the years, Imtiaz Ali gotbusy directing romances like Socha Na Tha, Jab We Met andRockstar but finally he is happy to revisit his dream storyin his upcoming film Highway. (Read: Highway emotionally charged, physically strenuous: Imtiaz Ali)
The director, who has redefined romance in Bollywood bygiving lovable, relatable characters to audiences, says he isintrigued by the story and by the fact that it has refused toleave him all these years.
"I intended this to be my first film. I thought of itfirst while I was directing TV serials. Over the years, Iwrote the script, forgot about it and continued to visit ittime and again but I would always end up doing other movies,"Ali told PTI in an interview.
"After I finished Rockstar, I realised that I will keepnot making Highway forever unless I jumped into it rightnow," says Imtiaz Ali, who has completed 70 per cent of the film.
Starring Randeep Hooda and Alia Bhatt, Highway isco-produced by Ali and Sajid Nadiadwala under a new banner,White Window. It is slated to release on December 13 thisyear.
The director believes it is his most honest work tilldate."I have thought of making this story in so many ways thatfinally what has come is the very essence. All the hardsubstances are gone from it. Also, I wanted to do it in a verypure manner and not contaminate it because sometimes your ownincapacity as a storyteller comes in the way and you think ofshortcuts.
"I am also trying to discover what it is that this storyhas always been in my mind. What is so intensely fascinatingabout it that I have not let it go," says Imtiaz Ali. As the name suggests, Highway is set in six differentstates and captures the journey of two completely oppositepeople who are thrown together by fate. Ali is confident thatRandeep and Alia fit the bill perfectly.
"I was looking for a very city girl for the character ofVeera Tripathi. She is very high society, rich girl who isthrown into the wild and Alia comes from there. Randeep is fitas Mahabir Bhati, who comes from the wild. He is gujjar fromthe semi-criminal dark zone," says Ali.
He is teaming with A R Rahman again for the film posttheir successful collaboration on Rockstar. Ali says he wasinitially hesitant to approach Rahman as the music directorwas very busy at that time.
"We started this film in a big hurry. So, I did not wantto trouble him but we stay in touch and I mentioned the storyto him one day. We talked about it for a while and he wasonboard."
Ali is aware that the music may draw comparison withRockstar but says that the nature of two movies iscompletely different.
"The nature of this movie is very different. This storyis played out on a large and very picturesque terrain. In thiskind of journey you feel certain things that can't beexpressed except through music. Most of the songs play in thebackgroung in Highway."
Ali has another movie in the pipeline that will starRanbir Kapoor. He will start working on it once Highway isreleased.
The director, who has redefined romance in Bollywood bygiving lovable, relatable characters to audiences, says he isintrigued by the story and by the fact that it has refused toleave him all these years.
"I intended this to be my first film. I thought of itfirst while I was directing TV serials. Over the years, Iwrote the script, forgot about it and continued to visit ittime and again but I would always end up doing other movies,"Ali told PTI in an interview.
"After I finished Rockstar, I realised that I will keepnot making Highway forever unless I jumped into it rightnow," says Imtiaz Ali, who has completed 70 per cent of the film.
Starring Randeep Hooda and Alia Bhatt, Highway isco-produced by Ali and Sajid Nadiadwala under a new banner,White Window. It is slated to release on December 13 thisyear.
The director believes it is his most honest work tilldate."I have thought of making this story in so many ways thatfinally what has come is the very essence. All the hardsubstances are gone from it. Also, I wanted to do it in a verypure manner and not contaminate it because sometimes your ownincapacity as a storyteller comes in the way and you think ofshortcuts.
"I am also trying to discover what it is that this storyhas always been in my mind. What is so intensely fascinatingabout it that I have not let it go," says Imtiaz Ali. As the name suggests, Highway is set in six differentstates and captures the journey of two completely oppositepeople who are thrown together by fate. Ali is confident thatRandeep and Alia fit the bill perfectly.
"I was looking for a very city girl for the character ofVeera Tripathi. She is very high society, rich girl who isthrown into the wild and Alia comes from there. Randeep is fitas Mahabir Bhati, who comes from the wild. He is gujjar fromthe semi-criminal dark zone," says Ali.
He is teaming with A R Rahman again for the film posttheir successful collaboration on Rockstar. Ali says he wasinitially hesitant to approach Rahman as the music directorwas very busy at that time.
"We started this film in a big hurry. So, I did not wantto trouble him but we stay in touch and I mentioned the storyto him one day. We talked about it for a while and he wasonboard."
Ali is aware that the music may draw comparison withRockstar but says that the nature of two movies iscompletely different.
"The nature of this movie is very different. This storyis played out on a large and very picturesque terrain. In thiskind of journey you feel certain things that can't beexpressed except through music. Most of the songs play in thebackgroung in Highway."
Ali has another movie in the pipeline that will starRanbir Kapoor. He will start working on it once Highway isreleased.
