Close X
Sunday, September 22, 2024
ADVT 
Bollywood

Never Intended To Make 'Laila Majnu' When I Wrote It, Says Imtiaz Ali

Darpan News Desk IANS, 20 Aug, 2018 02:27 PM
  • Never Intended To Make 'Laila Majnu' When I Wrote It, Says Imtiaz Ali
Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali, who has written the story of the upcoming film "Laila Majnu" along with his brother Sajid Ali, says he initially didn't intend to make it into a film.
 
 
Imtiaz told IANS here: "When I started writing the story of 'Laila Majnu', I had no intention to make a film. My first introduction to 'Laila Majnu' (the folklore) happened when I was supposed to read a collection of folk stories and 'Laila Majnu' was one of them. The thought came to my mind about what happened to Majnu and why did he refuse to accept Laila when she came to him after facing all the obstacles?
 
 
"I was trying to discover that what happened to Majnu, why did he do that? As a writer, since I do not get a clear picture from my mind unless I write it on paper, I started writing."
 
 
In due course, Imtiaz realised he had written down several scenes.
 
 
"I wrote around 40 scenes just to discover what happens between Laila and Majnu. I kept it aside and moved on. I knew that I do not want to direct the film because I wanted to see something new and only another mind could bring that," said the "Jab We Met" fame director.
 
 
When one of the producers of the film Preeti Ali looked for a story to make a film, Imtiaz shared the story and found a director in his brother Sajid Ali.
 
 
The film features two newcomers -- Tripti Dimri and Avinash Tiwary -- is presented by Imtiaz and co-produced by Ekta Kapoor, Shobha Kapoor and Preeti.
 
 
Asked if he has tried to comtemporise the characters Laila and Majnu to make them relevant in today's time, Imtiaz said: "Yes, the characters of the story have been contemporised to bring a certain kind of relatability to it."
 
 
Giving an example, he said: "Sajid has brought in a certain interesting elements of present time in the characters... Like Laila is a big attention seeker who is seeing herself on the front camera of her mobile and trying to perfect her pout.
 
 
"A lot of the ideas and treatment of the story belongs to Sajid and that is why I wanted someone new to direct the film instead of me."
 
 
"Laila Majnu" is slated to release on September 7.

MORE Bollywood ARTICLES

I'D Love To Sing For Janhvi Kapoor: Lata Mangeshkar

Legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar doesn’t see too many films any more. But she did catch glimpses of Anil Kapoor's homage to herself in "Fanney Khan", and Boney Kapoor and the late Sridevis daughter Janhvis debut film "Dhadak".

I'D Love To Sing For Janhvi Kapoor: Lata Mangeshkar

WATCH: Singer Neeti Mohan’s Nephew Vibhor Parashar Enters Top 14 Of 'Indian Idol'

WATCH: Singer Neeti Mohan’s Nephew Vibhor Parashar Enters Top 14 Of 'Indian Idol'
Singer Neeti Mohan is proud of her nephew Vibhor Parashar, a budding drummer and singer, for making it to top 14 of singing reality show "Indian Idol 10".

WATCH: Singer Neeti Mohan’s Nephew Vibhor Parashar Enters Top 14 Of 'Indian Idol'

Badshah Announces Collaboration With Rishi Rich

Rapper Badshah says he will be teaming up with British-Indian music producer Rishi Rich for an upcoming Bollywood movie.

Badshah Announces Collaboration With Rishi Rich

Vivek Agnihotri Engages With Oxford University Students Over 'Urban Naxals'

Vivek Agnihotri Engages With Oxford University Students Over 'Urban Naxals'
Filmmaker-author Vivek Agnihotri, who discussed his book "Urban Naxals" and the subject with Oxford University students, says the experience was a "healthy clash of minds".

Vivek Agnihotri Engages With Oxford University Students Over 'Urban Naxals'

Anupam Kher Off To New York To Shoot 'New Amsterdam'

Veteran actor Anupam Kher will be out of India for a "substantial time" to shoot medical drama "New Amsterdam".

Anupam Kher Off To New York To Shoot 'New Amsterdam'

When People Are With You, No Journey Is Odious: Kamal Haasan

When People Are With You, No Journey Is Odious: Kamal Haasan
Actor-filmmaker Kamal Haasan, who entered the film industry when he was just three, has taken baby steps into politics. He says if people are there to support him, no journey, irrespective of its destination, is "odious or painful".

When People Are With You, No Journey Is Odious: Kamal Haasan