Imtiaz Ali shared that Alia Bhatt wasn’t his first choice for Highway.
Imtiaz Ali opened up about his film Highway and how his unit was not convinced about Alia Bhatt playing the lead role.
Imtiaz Ali’s film ‘Highway’ marked a pivotal point in Alia Bhatt’s career. Initially perceived as merely another attractive newcomer, Alia’s performance in the movie garnered critical acclaim and audience admiration. Interestingly, Imtiaz disclosed that Alia Bhatt was not his first choice for ‘Highway’. The decision to cast her stirred doubts within his team; however, Alia’s portrayal shifted everyone’s perspective remarkably.
Speaking with Mukesh Chhabra on his Mashable India show, Imtiaz revealed, “During Highway, I always thought I would cast an older actress. Since it was a mature subject I wanted someone who was above 30. Alia was young, but I could see potential in her. I had not watched Student Of The Year by then. I met Alia when she came to watch the movie Love Shuv Tey Chiken Khurana with her mother. There is grace and beauty to her as an actor and a lot of emotional potential. So I asked her if she would read the script I was sending.”
He continued, “She did not call me for 2 days after that, so I called her and asked if she read the script. She was a bit overwhelmed and felt it was too much to do. She had an issue that she was there in every scene. Alia was a very unexpected actor for Highway and the unit was not convinced about how she would do this role. So, to convince them I made her tell the story in her way. By the end, everyone was like nobody else could do this role but Alia.”
Currently, Imtiaz Ali is gearing up for his next directorial Amar Singh Chamkila starring with Diljit Dosanjh and Parineeti Chopra. It is scheduled to premiere on Netflix on April 12th.
