In a recent revelation that has struck a chord with aspiring creatives everywhere, actor Imran Khan shared how one of his cherished stories was allegedly stolen by the executives of a television channel. After completing his studies in 2005, Khan returned to India, driven by the ambition to become a director and writer—an endeavor that did not initially include acting.
Khan recounted to Humans of Bombay that he went in “cold,” without revealing his industry connections, to pitch a collection of his stories to a television channel. Despite the channel’s apparent appreciation for his ideas, he never heard back from them. It wasn’t until one of his actress friends was cast in a role with a script that bore a striking resemblance to his story that he realized what had happened.
“I went to meet her, and when she gave me the script, it bore a striking resemblance to the outline of my story. So, they took my pitch and expanded it to make an episode,” Khan said. Frustratingly, his attempts to contact the channel executives went unanswered, leaving him without any explanation or recourse. “I tried to call those guys and get in touch with them but could never catch a hold of them to ask them, ‘What did you guys do?’”
This negative experience had a transformative impact on Khan’s career trajectory. His disillusionment with how his story was handled contributed to his decision to screen test for acting roles. He believed that achieving success as an actor would grant him the name recognition and influence needed to create the films he envisioned.
This pivotal moment led him to meet filmmaker Abbas Tyrewala, who played a crucial role in the making of Khan’s debut movie, ‘Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na’. The film itself had an elaborate three-year journey in the making. Initially, it was produced by Jhamu Sughand, who was concurrently involved in projects like Anurag Kashyap’s ‘Gulaal’ and ‘Johnny Gaddaar’. Unfortunately, when Sughand’s production company faced difficulties, Khan sought assistance from his uncle, the acclaimed actor and producer Aamir Khan.
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Aamir Khan, known for producing critically acclaimed films like ‘Lagaan’ and ‘Taare Zameen Par’, was initially approached to help them find a producer. Aamir, pausing to consider the project, remarked, “You know, I’m a producer.” Despite his nephew’s reservations about Aamir being a “serious film producer”, Aamir agreed to listen to the narration after six months. If he liked it, he would produce it. This fortuitous turn of events eventually led to the production of ‘Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na’, a film that marked Imran Khan’s successful journey into acting.
This act of betrayal by the television channel executives remains a poignant chapter in Khan’s career. While it indeed led to other opportunities and ultimately shaped his path as an actor, it reflects a broader issue within the industry where creatives often face similar exploitation of their intellectual properties. The irony here is palpable; a man with dreams of storytelling through direction and writing had to navigate through the very pitfalls he sought to avoid, emerging not just as a successful actor but as a reminder of the resilience needed in the entertainment industry.
This story, sourced from a third-party syndicated feed and agencies, underscores the realities faced by upcoming artists in the industry. While the challenges are numerous, it is the resilience and adaptability—exemplified by Khan—that often pave the way for eventual success. At this juncture, it is also a reminder and cautionary tale for new entrants in the creative fields to safeguard their ideas and to be prepared for an industry that can sometimes test their limits in unexpected ways.
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