Vishal Bhardwaj’s eagerly anticipated movie ‘Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola’ stars young actors Imran Khan, Anushka Sharma and veteran actor Pankaj Kapoor.
Many people questioned the casting of Imran Khan, who is known for his urban boy next door roles, as a Haryanvi boy.
Vishal Bhardwaj admitted that Imran Khan too was apprehensive and doubtful about the role but Vishal Bhardwaj said that was confident with his casting choice as he saw great potential in Imran Khan.
“Firstly, I love playing with actors’ images. And secondly, I saw potential in Imran after Delhi Belly (2011). We were both scared when I narrated the script. He asked me if I was sure about casting him. I said if I can direct a film without any training, then anybody can do anything. I have learnt everything on the job. But I loved his honesty. Only when you know your weaknesses can you work on them. He’s earnest and wants to prove himself. I have worked with many actors — Ajay (Devgn), Saif (Ali Khan) and Shahid (Kapoor) — but I had the best time with Imran,” said Vishal Bhardwaj to HT in an interview.
When asked if he rated Imran Khan as the best actor from the crop of actors he has worked with, Vishal Bhardwaj said, “That is a subjective term and I leave it to the audience. I am referring to the working experience. He didn’t come with preconceived notions, and he left everything to me. I could mould him the way I wanted. It’s the best thing an actor can do. And working with Pankaj Kapur isn’t easy. None of the others could have played Matru better than Imran. Taking on MKBKM is a big step for Imran. The film might be a turning point in his career.”
The veteran director, who has made critically acclaimed movies like ‘Omkara, ‘Kaminey’ and ‘Saath Khoon Maaf’, said that he hopes that ‘Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola’ takes Imran Khan’s career to next level.
“I hope Matru takes him into a different league. People used to tell me that I had made a mistake by casting Imran, but he has proved everyone wrong. He has not only spoken like a true Haryanvi, but adapted the body language as well,” he concluded.
‘Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola’ is touted to be a drama comedy set in a rustic village of Haryana. The movie is about Harry Mandola (Pankaj Kapur), a wealthy industrialist who loves his drink, his daughter Bijlee (Anushka Sharma) and the unusual bond they both share with Harry’s man Friday, Matru (Imran Khan).
The movie also stars Arya Babbar, who plays Anushka Sharma’s finance Baadal, the son of a powerful politician Chaudhari Devi played by Shabana Azmi.
The movie is set to release on January 11, 2013.