Imtiaz Ali, the acclaimed filmmaker known for his deeply emotional and thought-provoking movies, has recently turned heads with his latest Netflix release, “Amar Singh Chamkila,” featuring the charismatic Diljit Dosanjh. Despite his impressive portfolio of hits and blockbusters, Imtiaz Ali is no stranger to failures. One such setback was the lackluster box office performance of “Jab Harry Met Sejal,” starring Bollywood icons Shah Rukh Khan and Anushka Sharma.
In a candid interview with Ranveer Allahbadia, Imtiaz Ali addressed the commercial flop of “Jab Harry Met Sejal.” He poignantly referred to the film as an “unfortunate child,” reflecting a deep sense of attachment to his work. “So what if it didn’t do well, it is still your film, I was told. Toh mujhe bohot dard hua. It is an unfortunate child. I felt a sense of ownership over the film; I felt like telling it, ‘I am not embarrassed of you brother, you are mine, as much as any other film of mine,’” Ali shared, his voice tinged with a melancholic resonance.
Delving deeper into his sentiments, Ali confessed that he felt a kind of strange sadness, a “strange melancholy” as he termed it, regarding the film’s failure. He admitted that he hadn’t felt this way at the time of the movie’s release but the realization gradually dawned upon him. “Eek ajeeb sa dard mehsoos hua, that oh this was an unsuccessful film, which I didn’t feel it in this manner back then,” he explained.
Yet, the prolific director, known for celebrated films like “Jab We Met,” “Rockstar,” and “Tamasha,” believes that he has processed the pain associated with his failures over time. “You have to let it go… I feel lucky for all my failures. Now ‘Jab Harry Met Sejal’ didn’t work, still, I felt there was something good happening. I am not perturbed by it. You shouldn’t be so bothered with success or failure,” he advised, showing a matured perspective towards the ebbs and flows of his career.
For Imtiaz Ali, “Jab Harry Met Sejal” was an ambitious experiment that simply didn’t click with the audience. “The process is different with each film, but the approach was similar.
. I was trying to make a light film with ‘Jab Harry Met Sejal,’ an easy film, in which there is no ‘funda’, no obvious depth, no philosophical depth. I was trying to make a light film, which was also an experiment,” he reflected. The filmmaker wanted to steer clear from the deep, philosophically rich narratives that his successful movies had typically adhered to. “The films of mine that were doing well were not like that. But I didn’t want to make the same kind of film; in fact, I wanted to be different, so I went in that direction. That was a pure thought. Some experiments won’t work,” Ali explained with an air of acceptance.
“Jab Harry Met Sejal,” a romantic comedy, entered the cinematic world with high hopes, driven by the star power of Shah Rukh Khan and Anushka Sharma. Unfortunately, it opened to mixed-to-negative reviews from both critics and audiences, leading to its downfall in the domestic market. It was, however, relatively successful on an international scale, finding a more receptive audience overseas.
Ali’s reflections on this film are a testament to his unwavering commitment to his craft. Despite the setback, he maintains a humble and steadfast belief in his vision and creativity. His journey through the highs and lows of filmmaking offers a poignant reminder that in the world of artistry, failures are just as significant as successes. They contribute to the growth of an artist and help forge a deeper understanding of one’s creative process.
As the prominent figure in Bollywood continues to evolve and experiment with different genres and narrative styles, his fans and followers remain eagerly anticipative of what he will bring to the screen next. The ability to embrace failures and learn from them, as illustrated by Imtiaz Ali, is perhaps one of the many reasons for his enduring impact on the film industry.
Imtiaz Ali’s introspective and honest admission regarding “Jab Harry Met Sejal” serves as a compelling narrative about dealing with professional setbacks and embracing them as integral components of one’s artistic journey. This approach not only solidifies his reputation as a stalwart filmmaker but also as a reflective, ever-evolving artist.
