Imtiaz Ali was a rockstar at the recent Tension Not Twitter spaces session
Compiled by Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; February 1, 2022)

Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali exudes a saint-like calmness, which is surprising in a field where tension tends to run high. In conversation with Sonal Kalra, Managing Editor (Entertainment & Lifestyle), Hindustan Times, at the Tension Not Twitter spaces session, Ali said his craft is his secret. “Interest ka kaam hai, mazaa aata hai, tense wali feeling nahin hoti,” said the 50-year-old.

The director of cult films like Jab We Met (2007), Highway (2014), Tamasha (2015)seemed almost like a rockstar as excited listeners couldn’t hold back their questions. Excerpts:

@iamFirki: What’s with your obsession with travelling? Most of your films start with it.
I love travelling. I’m from Jamshedpur, which is not a big city. We had to travel to Delhi or Kolkata for everything. My father worked on irrigation projects and he used to take me on tours. I’d feel a weird romance while travelling. Wahi cheez abhi bhi chal rahi hai. I have a suspicion that I deliberately write films where I’d get to travel!

@ARanganathan72: Is it a conscious decision to shy away from expressing your political inclinations?
I deliberately do not make political statements in my movies. It’s not that I’m scared... If there comes a time when I want to say something political, I will. But I understand the kind of reach films have, and I don’t like to show ignorance that I might have about politics.

@thatzanychick: You’ve said in the past that you like shooting songs. Please tell us your favourite memory.
One was Aaoge Jab Tum from Jab We Met. I was embarrassed to shoot it as it seemed slow, boring. I used to tell the sound guy to only play the part we were shooting. It’s a blessing that I get to hang out with people like Pritam Chakraborty, A R Rahman sir, tons of musicians, lyricists.

@sonalkalra: How many people have told you that they quit their jobs after watching Tamasha?
Many! I feel a sense of responsibility... This is when the power of cinema jumps to me. Aap ek kahaani likhte hain, aapko andaaza nahin hota ki aisa asar pad sakta hai. This is why I try to make films from the heart, with as much honesty as I can.

Listen to the full session: https://twitter.com/i/spaces/1yNGaYeooqnGj