By Hindustan Times
Imran Khan, who's preparing for his first gangster role in Milan Luthria’s sequel to Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai (2010), is decided to play the part convincingly. This is why the actor, together with his driver and see boy as his guides, plans to make incognito visits to areas like Dongri in Mumbai,
and observe the lives of the residents up close.
“Since our lives are so different and our experiences are just according to what we read or see within the movies, I WOULD LIKE to spend time in these localities without acting like a tourist to know my character and the sector he lives in better. Most gangster movies are cool and stylised, however the heart’s not in it,” reasons Imran.
“A diction coach can only get you up to now. To grasp the delicate nuances of the language and the mannerisms that set the folks apart, it’s essential to imbibe the local colour. That’s why I NEED to go to these so-called taporis, not all of whom are gangsters, before starting Milan’s film,” he adds. The actor isn’t new to analyze of this kind as he spent a month-and-a-half in Delhi interacting with boys from Rothak, before he started shooting for Vishal Bhardwaj’s Matru Ki Bijli Ka Mandola, to get his Haryanvi accent right.
Interestingly, in his efforts to be realistic, Imran isn't looking to make his performance less filmi. He points out that many filmmakers today downplay emotions.
“But for me the hallmark of Hindi cinema is the feelings. We Indians are larger-than-life, not afraid to laugh and cry and wear our hearts on our sleeves. Milan understands that and has written an emotional, original story that can have certain similarities to Dawood Ibrahim and Chhota Shakeel, but isn't a biopic. The characters and their journeys are their own, that's why I'M embarking alone journey too,” he says.
