I don’t worry about things that are not in my control: Imran Khan

Every time I meet Imran Khan I come away more impressed by his wit, charm and the depth of his knowledge in most matters for someone his age. He is self-aware and not delusional, unlike many in the industry that he is part of. He is grounded and secure, which is refreshing in a profession where no one is. We connect over our common love for cats. The actor shares some interesting tidbits about romance, peeves, what makes him tick — and his unwashed denims!

Beyonce or Rihanna?

Equally uninterested in both.

Flirty or intense romance?

After 14 years of being with this one woman (his wife Avantika), how can you ask me this question? Intense, of course. I started dating her when I was a teenager, since I was 19 and when we didn’t have cell phones. I don’t even know about any other woman.

What’s your pet peeve?

I get irritated with people who are on the phone all the time — you can hear the tick-tick or tapping of the keys when they are chatting or eating with you.

A quality that draws you to a woman?

If she can make me laugh. By that, I don’t mean sense of humour. Women are not encouraged to be funny. With men, it’s a big thing and to be humourous is thought of as a desirable thing. So women often won’t crack jokes. I find that to be rare and it requires a degree of wit, awareness and intelligence to be witty. I find humour in a woman very attractive.

A quality in a woman that puts you off?

Wilful ignorance. We are at a place right now. It’s weird when you tell people something, they will say ‘Don’t pakao, I don’t need to know the reason,’ as everything for them is on a superficial level. But I am like, why not? Particularly, if it pertains to you or your life. So when someone tells me, ‘Why do you worry about these things, Imran? How does it matter?” I am like — don’t use it then!

Live-in relationships are…

I think it’s a very valuable way of getting to know someone. Avantika and I lived together in the USA since we were 21. We moved back to India at 22 and continued to live together here, so we spent many years together before getting married.

One mantra you live by…

People worry and stress about things they can’t control, I can’t. As much as you worry, you can’t impact or affect anything.

One professional mistake that you will never make…

I am guilty of making this mistake in the past, which is that you do a film for a dishonest reason. It can be anything — emotions, money or the greed for stardom. Your reasons are not honest for that film and that’s wrong. You should do it for the reason that excites you, but I have chosen to do films for these reasons and invariably it has come back to bite me in the ass.

A quality you wish you had...

I wish I was more outgoing. I’m not good with small talk. I can’t do it. I suspect that a lot of people who meet me for the first time think of me as rude or standoffish. I wish I had this ability to relate and connect to people. Some people are so warm, but I can open up only after meeting someone many times. People’s ability to effortlessly charm and make friends with others is something that I am envious about.

Three things you wish you had…

I have got more from life than I could ever wish for. I’m extremely aware of how fortunate I am because of the blessed life I have, so then to say, ‘Kaash ye hota...’ is being ungrateful.

Three people you rely on/trust completely and why…

Avantika is No 1 in that list, my mother Nuzhat and the third person is open, depending on the scenario like a friend. My mom and wife are there first.

A moment you want to relive

I would very much like to relive the first day that Jaane Tu Ya... Jaane Na released. It was a 10 am show at Cinemax (now PVR) and we had gone there to check out the audience reaction. I snuck in and was standing at the staircase where I could hear the film, but not see it. Near the end when Sushant’s character starts hitting me and I fall down, the audience oohed and aahed as if they were part of it. When I hit him and he falls, they collectively gasp. It was the first great experience I had of an audience reacting to my work. It was unbiased and neutral as they had bought their tickets and was liking my work. That feeling is undescribable - I felt like I had floated up above the ground. I felt like a drug was injected directly into my heart and some magic potion was running into my bloodstream. It’s the greatest drug ever - the drug of the audience loving your work is unparalled. Koi daru ya cocaine - none of that can ever compare to this feeling! Of an audience honestly reacting to your work and cheering you. It’s a high that every actor chases.

An average day in your life…

Waking up with my baby, playing with her for a couple of hours, 11 am to lunchtime meeting narration script session and usually work appointments, I go and pick up baby from school, 4 pm onwards, it is work again. I have slots in the day when things happen. I go to gym in the eve, after that ideally I like to be free as I like to spend time with my baby for the last couple of hours before she goes to sleep but some people are late hosts so they expect you to meet them later. I am an 'early to bed, early and early to rise' person, so as far as possible, I try to get my meetings done earlier in the day.