Imran Khan and his Luck co-star Shruti Hassan go back a long way.
Shruti, her younger sister Akshara and their mom Sarika were regular house guests in the Khan household at a time when Sarika was based in Chennai with her husband and was a frequent visitor to Mumbai.
"That’s right, " concedes Imran. "We almost grew up together. Initially Soham wanted to sign a new girl opposite me in Luck. I recommended Shruti. And I’m glad I did. Shruti has turned out to be wonderful in Luck. In terms of her look, talent and body language, Shruti is not your conventional heroine at all. She’s very unconventional."
Shruti’s real-life status as a rock singer in real life is now bring incorporated into Luck.
Says Imran, "I’ve discussed the idea of Shruti singing in Luck with my director Soham Shah, and he’s kicked by the idea. So Shruti will be singing in Luck. In fact Soham and the music director Pritam are having music sessions right now. A song is being designed for Shruti."
Only because childhood friend Imran recommended Shruti as both an actress and a singer.
What about Imran singing for himself? Not too many people know Imran sings quite well and entertains family friends and girlfriend with his singing.
At first Imran brushes off the idea. "You’ve seen Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na. You’ve seen how badly I sing in the climax? But I do have a steady voice. I sing the lower notes well. So with a little bit of training I may be able to sing for one of my films."
For now Imran is happy doing all the rugged outdoor sports with Shruti Hassan in Soham Shah’s Luck. "I think it’s a helluva concept. No one has done any film like Luck before."
In fact Imran would love to be part of the sports film that Soham will now be directing for Sanjay Dutt Productions. "I love outdoor sports, Sanju Baba and I love working with Soham. So there’s no reason why I wouldn’t want to be part of Soham’s next."
Imran says he finds it easy to get along with all the directors and co-stars he has so far working with. "I do have an immediate and easy connectivity with people. I guess that quality works for me on screen.
My aim is to play characters that people can easily connect with. That’s true of Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na, Kidnap, Luck and Delhi Belly. These are the only films I’ve signed so far."
