EXCLUSIVE- Imtiaz Ali: If Ranbir Kapoor wouldn't have said yes to Tamasha, I wouldn't have made the film

Imtiaz Ali speaks about his two favourite scenes from Tamasha, Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone.

By Bhavna Agarwal

Updated on Nov 28, 2017 | 05:49 PM IST | 1.2M

Away from box office glitter, Imtiaz Ali movies are for 'the fools who dream'. Instead of running away from the darker side to one's personality, Imtiaz chooses to confront it and weave a story around it. His cinema has a niche audience and his movies manage to garner mixed reviews always.

Tamasha starring Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone completes 2 years today. The movie explicitly captured the heart-achingly beautiful relationship between a person and his dreams.

We got in touch with Imtiaz to know his favourite scenes from the movie, how much does he relate to Ved and much more.

Here's an excerpt from the interview:

It's been 2 years since Tamasha happened. It had opened to a mixed review. Two years down the line, how do you think people react to it?

When you watch a movie, you enjoy it but there are some movies which you remember and there are some which affect you in some ways. I think Tamasha is one of those films which has affected people positively. That is something which is very significant to me because a lot of people have come to me and said that how the movie has changed them, their attitude and many were positive changes. If this movie has had such an effect on people, it is a matter of pride for me.

Your favourite two scenes from the movie?

I love the scene where he talks to his father in the end. Actually, even more than that I think I like the scene where he goes back to the storyteller where the latter tells him 'why should I tell your story?' That scene is what I like the most in the movie because it is very significant and it speaks to you directly and communicates clearly the intent of the film.

I really enjoy the song also, Tum Saath Ho. The way it happens in the cafeteria and the breakup scene is very intense, very real and heartwrenching.

Ranbir and Deepika were exceptionally well as Ved and Tara. Do you think any other actor could have done justice to the characters?

No, I don't think so. It is very very difficult. Not at all. Definitely not Ranbir Kapoor as Ved. I just feel that if he wouldn't have said yes, I wouldn't have made the film. I had no other choice. Same for Deepika because Deepika came in and that is how the character and the role also changed because she was there.

How much do you resonate with Ved?

I do. I was fortunate that my parents pushed me in the direction of my own dreams but I have often thought how different it would be for me if my father was different. So that way I have a very personal connection in that way with the film.

Many wondered why did the film have a happy ending given the number of conflict in it. Your take?

The film had several heavy scenes, right?There was so much emotion in it. I did not want that the ending is also sad. I wanted the audience to leave on a positive note.