EXCLUSIVE: I’d Rather Fail Than Play Safe, Says Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali On Love Aaj Kal’s Debacle

Imtiaz Ali’s latest outing Love Aaj Kal that featured Kartik Aaryan and Sara Ali Khan in the lead roles was panned by the critics and the audiences alike. There was a swarm of negative comments that did the rounds of the social media. The word of mouth about the film was bad as well. As a result, the film failed to set the cash registers rolling - ultimately turning into a flop.

Comments like ‘Imtiaz Ali lost his mojo and he can’t direct films any more’ and many similar opinions were flooding YouTube and other reviews online. Imtiaz’s Laila Majnu too was a botch at the box office. So, is he doing something wrong or is he repeating himself a bit too much - so much so that the audiences are finding it boring? Does he really have to bring about a zabardast ghumao (a U – Turn) to his thought process and his craft?

We at Desimartini.com exclusively got in touch with Imtiaz to understand what was his take on the negativity for his films especially Love Aaj Kal. The filmmaker, however, seemed to be undeterred by it all saying this isn’t the first time he is being slammed. Quipped he, “There are a lot of things I have done that have been criticised before. Thank God, that all of that is not about the films I make.”

He further went on to assert that as a filmmaker, one has to have the knack of opining about his own work and not be too bothered about what the naysayers think about it. He thinks all the negativity has to be taken with a pinch of salt because it is reality. “You need to have your opinion about the work you do and you need to have your own excitement about what you want to do. The reason that I came here in Bombay was not any of those people that are giving negative or positive comments. I came here because I like to do this and I like to do it in the best way and I want everybody to love it but sometimes that doesn’t happen. And when it doesn’t happen, you have got to take it in the same spirit that you take sometimes the success of your own films when people say positive things about you which I also get.” He stated.

Ali acknowledges that there will always be some room to get better but because of that experimenting should never stop because ultimately that is what lights the bulb in one.  He further volleyed, “Obviously, there is scope for improvement but also you have got to experiment a bit. I’d rather fail than play safe that will always be my policy and I am enjoying this ride. Every time you can’t go from one high to another. Sometimes you will have to come down to create a better peak so I take it like that.”

He further revealed that because of his association with theatre and performing arts since childhood, he very well understands even a scoff can teach one a lot. “I have been here for a long time and even before this I was in performing arts since I was a kid so I understand that a jeer will also teach you something which is different from what a cheer teaches you.” concluded the filmmaker.

What do you think about this? And tell us what you did not like about Love Aaj Kal in the comments section. For more such exclusive updates on Bollywood keep a close tab on Desimartini.com