In a candid conversation with Mid-day, Imtiaz confessed that he approached the film without fully considering Shah Rukh Khan’s immense stardom, a factor that significantly impacted the movie’s reception.
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Imtiaz Ali, known for his unique storytelling style, revealed that he made ‘Jab Harry Met Sejal’ in the same way he approached his previous projects, focusing primarily on the story rather than the superstar status of the lead actor.
“I have always done films like how I have done television and theatre. There is a story, and there are actors, and through these actors, you tell the story,” Imtiaz explained. He acknowledged that while this approach had worked for his past films, it may not have been the right fit for a film starring Shah Rukh Khan.
The director admitted that he did not account for the ways in which Shah Rukh’s extraordinary stardom could have been benefitted in elevating the film. “Shah Rukh is the biggest star I have worked with, but he is so accessible that he never gives you the impression that ‘I am somebody’. I didn’t factor in his stardom as much as I should have,” Imtiaz said.
He further elaborated that with this new wisdom, he would have crafted the film differently, adding elements that would showcase Shah Rukh Khan’s strengths as both an actor and a superstar.
The film, released on August 4, 2017, received mixed-to-negative reviews, with criticism directed at its direction, story, and screenplay. Despite the film’s commercial failure, its soundtrack, cinematography, and production design were praised by the audiences.
