Imtiaz Ali reveals why Kareena Kapoor Khan was his first alternative for Geet in Jab We Met, shares insights on casting an 18-year-old Alia Bhatt in Freeway | Hindi Film Information

Imtiaz Ali has created a few of Bollywood’s most iconic characters, from Kareena Kapoor Khan’s Geet in Jab We Met to Alia Bhatt’s Veera in Freeway. In a latest interview, he revealed particulars about his casting course of, explaining why Kareena was at all times his first alternative for Jab We Met and the way he ended up choosing an 18-year-old Alia Bhatt for Freeway.
Throughout a dialog on the YouTube channel Recreation Changer, Imtiaz Ali shared his imaginative and prescient for Geet’s character. “When I’m writing, I at all times have a determine in thoughts,” he defined. “Geet’s manner of speaking, her vitality, and her persona had been all very distinct, and I noticed all of that in Kareena Kapoor.” He additional revealed, “I at all times wished Kareena for Jab We Met. Initially, it wasn’t understanding, however then she got here on board. She was my first option to play Geet.”
The 2007 movie, co-starring Shahid Kapoor, turned a cultural phenomenon. Kareena’s portrayal of the colourful and free-spirited Geet stays certainly one of Bollywood’s most memorable performances, making Jab We Met one of the crucial liked romantic movies in Indian cinema.
Imtiaz Ali additionally mentioned how his casting selections typically evolve. Whereas writing Freeway, he initially imagined a extra skilled actor for the position however finally forged a younger Alia Bhatt.
“There isn’t a arithmetic in our work; it’s an instinctive course of. I believed I might forged a 30-year-old, mature actor for Freeway—somebody who had seen the world and would insurgent. However after I met Alia, I believed, ‘That is the lady.’ Alia was simply 18 at the moment, however she had the emotional depth the character wanted. She hadn’t executed a lot work then, and I hadn’t even seen her movie Scholar of the Yr, however the best way she spoke—it was very charming. She had a high quality about her that was implausible for this half.”

Apparently, it wasn’t simply Imtiaz Ali who performed a task in Alia’s casting, it additionally took Mahesh Bhatt’s persuasion for her to signal Freeway. “I used to go to her home, and Bhatt sahab was making an attempt to persuade her to do it. She was a bit scared as a result of each scene had her in it. She doubted whether or not she would have the ability to do it because it wasn’t a straightforward movie to tackle,” Imtiaz revealed.

Each Jab We Met and Freeway turned out to be career-defining movies for Kareena Kapoor and Alia Bhatt, respectively. Jab We Met fast-tracked Kareena’s profession, making her certainly one of Bollywood’s high actresses, whereas Freeway gave Alia early important acclaim and showcased her performing prowess past mainstream cinema.