Can't think of film without man-woman relationship: Imtiaz Ali

He is not resting on his laurels after the success of 'Love Aaj Kal'. Imtiaz Ali is already thinking about different stories and scripts to make into film but says whatever he makes will have the man-woman relationship as its focus.

"I haven't decided yet which story I am going to make next. I have a few stories swimming around in my mind. I don't know how they are going to take shape or which one is going to become a compulsive reason to make a film," Ali told us in an interview.

"All the stories that I have, have something to do with a man-woman relationship. I can't think of any story that doesn't involve a man-woman relationship," he added.

The three-film old director also hinted at a spy movie with a similar background.

"I also have a story which is a kind of secret service type where there is a guy who discovers himself by being the obscure secret service guy. But even there, though there is not the presence of too many women, the enduring trait is his relationship with a woman who won't be seen on screen too much," said the 38-year-old.

Ranbir teaming up with Imtiaz, hints Rishi Kapoor

Mumbai, Aug 20 If things move as per plan, Ranbir Kapoor may soon find himself working with ace filmmaker Imtiaz Ali, indicates the young actor's father Rishi Kapoor.
'I'm positive that in 2010, Imtiaz and Ranbir would be beginning a film together. They have been meeting on a regular basis and are just looking at finalising on something concrete before they make a formal announcement,' says Rishi Kapoor, who was seen in Ali's 'Love Aaj Kal'.
Prodded further on what the genre, subject, leading lady and production house will be, Rishi denies being in the know.
'I never get involved in the creative aspects of Ranbir's films. He takes all his decisions himself. All I know is that Ranbir working with Imtiaz would be a great decision since I have now witnessed Imtiaz's sensibilities on a first hand basis after working with him,' said the actor who was earlier seen in 'Delhi 6'.
Rishi got quite some appreciation for his portrayal as a Sikh in 'Love Aaj Kal'.
'While working on the film, I realised that this boy (Imtiaz) is so cultured, sensible and simple. There is a saying that one's character gets reflected in his work. It was there for everyone to see in 'Love Aaj Kal', which was so honest and sincere, just like Imtiaz,' Rishi said.
If the project materialises, Ranbir will be working with yet another accomplished filmmaker. He made his debut with Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Saawariya' and later featured in Siddharth Anand's 'Bachna Ae Haseeno'.
Currently, he is working with Raj Kumar Santoshi in 'Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani', Prakash Jha in 'Rajneeti', Shimit Amin for the forthcoming 'Rocket Singh - Salesman Of The Year' and Ayan Mukerji in 'Wake Up Sid'.
When asked about it, Imtiaz said: 'Honestly speaking, nothing has been finalised yet. Yes, Ranbir and I have been meeting each other for quite some time and have been bouncing off story ideas. Still, we are yet to close on a story line.
'I have always placed my story before anything else. Whether it is 'Love Aaj Kal', 'Jab We Met' or 'Socha Na Tha', the story has always been of paramount importance.'
So is he or is he not signing Ranbir?
'I definitely want to work with him. However, I will announce my cast once the story is finalised. Making any comments before that would be immaterial and unwarranted,' he said.

When one actor isn't enough

Sometimes a character takes more than just one actor.

Sometimes Bollywood likes to stress the passage of time, which is when they get one actor to show a character's youth and another to play his future. With Saif Ali Khan all set to play Rishi Kapoor in Love Aaj Kal, here's a look at some memorable instances of two -- or more -- actors playing the same character.

Saif Ali Khan and Rishi Kapoor as Veer Singh in Love Aaj Kal

Saif Ali Khan plays the younger version of Rishi Kapoor in Imtiaz Ali's film, and this is probably the reason the Chhote Nawab has been looking so much like Kapoor's son Ranbir in the film's promos -- right down to wooing Ranbir's real-life squeeze Deepika -- but visually, it just seems like the actor's trying too hard to look young.

Saif, Rishi: No acting rating yet, but Saif gets a 2/5 for his Ranbir hangover

Humungous expectations from 'Love Aaj Kal'

There're humungous expectations from 'Love Aaj Kal', but Imtiaz Ali isn't nervous. "People are bound to compare 'Love Aaj Kal' with 'Jab We Met', but that's something I'm not worried about. Neither am I nervous. And nor am I getting any sleepless nights. I guess, it's an emotional defect," Imtiaz chuckles.

'Love Aaj Kal' marks the debut of Saif Ali Khan as a producer. "When Saif first told me he was keen to produce the film, I was surprised. I asked him the reasons for turning producer and I was convinced when he spelt them out. He wants to make movies that he believes in and our thoughts matched completely," Imtiaz reveals, "But Saif also clarified that he'd concentrate on acting only, while Dinesh would look after the day-to-day production."

Since the film is produced by Saif himself, one expected Kareena Kapoor to star in the film, but it's Deepika Padukone this time. "I wouldn't be justifying her [Kareena] talent if I didn't give her the same importance as in 'Jab We Met'. Deepika was always my first choice and I must add, she has enacted her part with amazing understanding. I am sure, people will be pleasantly surprised," Imtiaz divulges.

Not many are aware that Imtiaz was keen on calling the film 'Aaj Kal', since the film talks of kal [Rishi Kapoor] and aaj [Saif]. "Since the film is primarily a love story, we decided to add 'Love' before 'Aaj Kal'. That explains the title," Imtiaz adds.

So what's his next move? "I haven't finalized a script yet, but I have one film with Shree Ashtavinayak and another with Sajid Nadiadwala," he reveals.

'Love Aaj Kal' is a family film: Imtiaz Ali

Imtiaz Ali openly admits that his upcoming 'Love Aaj Kal', which stars Saif Ali Khan and Deepika Padukone, has unabashed kissing scenes and shows the lead actors mouthing expletives, but the director insists that it will still be a complete family entertainer.

The director says he has included the so-called objectionable scenes in the movie's promos so that people are already used to it by the time they see the film.

"See, it's the way you put it in the film and treat it. It's up to the filmmaker not to make his film some fodder for perversion or lechery." Ali told us.

Ali promises that 'Love Aaj Kal", which is Saif's production debut, is a film that would be accepted by an entire family.

"Kisses included," he winks. "Nobody will feel inhibited watching 'Love Aaj Kal'. No one will hesitate walking into the film with his family. All that is potentially objectionable in the film in the strictest of sense has been taken care of in the first promo. If you have warmed up on it, rest assured you will love 'Love Aaj Kal'," the filmmaker said.

'Love Aaj Kal' is his third love story after 'Socha Na Tha' and the blockbuster 'Jab We Met'.

But there were people around Ali who weren't too comfortable with the idea of showing Saif trying to hold Deepika's butt, then share an unabashed kiss with her in the car and also mouth Hinglish expletives on a date right in the promo itself.

"They thought that people may get an impression that the film was only about these things but I had my own viewpoint," explains Ali.

"My argument is that audiences are really smart. They pretty much see the intention of the filmmaker and make up their mind to watch the film accordingly. We better start taking them seriously rather than attempt at fooling them by considering ourselves over smart," he says.

To substantiate his claim, Ali goes on to share an anecdote from his experience during the making of "Jab We Met", which starred Shahid Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor.

"Remember the sequence in the second half of the film when Kareena curses her ex-boyfriend on phone? She goes on to say 'Teri Maa Ki' and a lot more. Did the audience feel awkward? Not at all. In fact they laughed during the entire scene and not a single soul came and told me that he/she felt offended by the language," Ali reasons.

The director, however, admits that for 'Love Aaj Kal', the prime target audience is the younger crowd.

"And that's more by accident rather than planned," he says. "The film caters to them mainly because it's this age group that goes and sees films in theatres. Due to this, even when I am conceptualising a film and then putting it on celluloid, I feel safe from my target audience perspective," he explains.

With music by Pritam and lyrics by Irshad Kamil, 'Love Aaj Kal' is set for a July 31 release.