After nearly eleven years of what he describes as “hibernation,” Bollywood’s quintessential boy-next-door, Imran Khan, has finally made his return to the silver screen. But for fans expecting a calculated, blockbuster comeback, the actor has a different story to tell. Appearing in a scene-stealing cameo in the newly released spy-comedy Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos, Khan says he is no longer interested in the numbers game.
“Not everybody wants the same thing from their careers,” Khan shared in a candid conversation following the film’s release on January 16. “I’m not seeking to build myself into a very big star, to be the biggest star, or to be in the top three.”
The road back to the sets wasn’t paved with high-budget scripts or strategic meetings. Instead, it was born out of a simple text message. The film, which marks the directorial debut of his Delhi Belly co-star and close friend Vir Das, features Khan as “Milind Morea,” an international supermodel.
Khan admitted that he didn’t even ask for a script narration. “I started hearing that people I know were involved—my uncle Aamir was producing, Mithila Palkar was on board. I was struck with FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out),” he laughed. “I texted Vir saying, ‘I would love to be in your film, can you include me somewhere?'”
Vir Das reportedly went back to the drawing board to craft a specific role that would do justice to Khan’s screen presence, despite it being a cameo.
Having stepped away from the industry after his 2015 film Katti Batti, Khan has spent the last decade reflecting on his relationship with fame. He noted that he is now financially secure and feels no pressure to compete in the “transactional” environment of modern Bollywood.
“The reason that I ever made films was to play with my friends. We get a bunch of people together, we paint our faces, we put on costumes, and we play. Creating art must come from a place of love and joy.”
Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos has been described by critics as an “effortlessly chaotic” comedy that channels the irreverent energy of Delhi Belly. The film follows Happy Patel (played by Vir Das), the adopted son of British secret agents who finds himself on a bumbling rescue mission in Goa.
While the film features a high-profile cameo by Aamir Khan as well, it is Imran’s return that has sparked a wave of nostalgia across social media. Despite his humble stance on stardom, the “Kya Banaya” memes and viral teasers suggest that the audience’s love for the actor hasn’t faded during his long absence. To know such latest updates tuned to tellyboosters.com Thank you!
