Imtiaz Ali has always been known for crafting emotional love stories that resonate across generations. But when it came to revisiting one of his most beloved films, Love Aaj Kal, the experience seems to have left him with mixed feelings.

Reflecting on why he decided to make Love Aaj Kal’s sequel, Ali admitted that the decision was driven purely by the story he wanted to tell. “Because I had a story. And that has confirmed my view of not making any further sequels. That has further confirmed my view,” he shared candidly. For those unaware, the 2009 film Love Aaj Kal starred Saif Ali Khan and Deepika Padukone in leading roles, while the 2020 film Love Aaj Kal 2 had Kartik Aaryan and Sara Ali Khan in the lead.

The filmmaker explained that sequels often come with the burden of audience expectations, something that can overshadow the individuality of a film. “Because the expectations are different. So, I don’t want to go into that zone,” he added.

Love Aaj Kal 2 attempted to explore modern relationships through timelines that mirrored changing ideas of love and commitment. However, comparisons with the original 2009 film followed almost instantly after its release. So, Ali now believes the film may have been received differently if it had not carried the title of such a beloved predecessor. “Maybe, people would have appreciated that picture had it been with some other name,” he explained.

Now, the filmmaker is preparing to release his upcoming film Main Vaapas Aaunga, starring Naseeruddin Shah, Diljit Dosanjh, Sharvari and Vedang Raina in leading roles. The story alternates between timelines, following a younger couple (Vedang Raina and Sharvari) torn apart by the Partition of India and an older narrative (Naseeruddin Shah) where Diljit Dosanjh uncovers this tragic and unfinished love story.

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Imtiaz Ali has always been known for extracting emotionally layered performances from his actors. From seasoned veterans to newcomers, the director believes acting is less about experience and more about emotional honesty and suitability to a character. And while speaking about the cast of his upcoming film, Main Vaapas Aaunga, Ali drew an interesting comparison between Vedang Raina and Alia Bhatt during her Highway days.

While speaking to Filmfare, he reflected on his approach to casting. The filmmaker said, “I have an individualistic take for actors. A certain actor, whether he is a veteran or a newcomer; whether he has done 20 films or it is his first film – the acting ability and the suitability to the character does not change. And these are the two things that excite me.”

Ali further explained how he never sees actors purely through the lens of experience. Recalling his time working with the late Shammi Kapoor, he shared, “So, for instance, when I worked with Shammi Kapoor ji – he is such a veteran actor, but he had a childlike quality. So, for me, it was not about working with a veteran actor. It was about working with another actor.”

The director then spoke about the emotional maturity he noticed in certain younger performers. He said, “You know, Alia Bhatt in Highway or Vedang Raina in this film (Main Vaapas Aaunga) have portrayed certain depth of emotion. Some newcomers unexpectedly do that. There is a certain maturity that these people possess.”

For Ali, that emotional instinct is what ultimately matters the most. He added, “So, I feel that actors are very individualistic. They never become veterans. They always remain the same.”

The filmmaker is preparing for the release of his upcoming film Main Vaapas Aaunga, starring Naseeruddin Shah, Diljit Dosanjh, Sharvari and Vedang Raina in leading roles. The story alternates between timelines, following a younger couple (Vedang Raina and Sharvari) torn apart by the Partition of India and an older narrative (Naseeruddin Shah) where Diljit Dosanjh uncovers this tragic and unfinished love story.

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