Imran Khan – Bollywood actor of ‘Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na’ fame

Imran Khan is a popular actor associated with Bollywood, best known for romantic comedies. He shot to fame with his debut flick, Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na in 2008, and also bagged Filmfare award for best male debut. He tasted success through I Hate Luv Storys (2010), Delhi Belly (2011), Mere Brother Ki Dulhan (2011) and Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu (2012). Though he earned fame as a chocolate young hero of Bollywood, after a few setbacks he quit acting in 2015. Belonging to a filmy background, he is the grandson of legendary filmmaker, Nasir Hussain and nephew of popular actor, Aamir Khan. Popular actor Raj Zutshi is his stepfather.

Born as the grandson of famous filmmaker Nasir Hussain, his childhood days are not so memorable

Imran Khan’s birth name is Imran Pal. He was born to Anil Pal, a software engineer based in US and Nuzhat Khan, a psychologist and the daughter of Bollywood hit filmmaker Nasir Hussain. His paternal uncle Tahir Hussain was a Bollywood Film Producer, whose son in popular actor Aamir Khan. Known actor Tariq Khan of Hum Kise Se Kum Nahi fame and director Mansoor Khan are his uncles. Aamir’s sister and his aunt Nikhat Khan also had a brief career in Bollywood as an actress, lyricist and costume designer.

His parents divorced when he was a toddler of 1.5 years and his mother took him back to Mumbai. She later married actor Raj Zutshi with Imran shares father-figure bond. However Rajendranath Zutshi and Nuzhat Khan ended their 16-year old relationship in 2006, three years before Imran’s screen debut. During his school days at Bombay Scottish School, he developed a stammer due to corporal punishments such as caning. His studies declined as he failed to cope with his new environment and even developed facial tics.

His mother newly married then, and found it convenient to send him to a boarding school. Thus he continued studies at Coonoor, Tamil Nadu. He fell into depression during early days, and slowly adjusted to the new environment, though his academics were not brilliant. When the school’s principal started a new school modelled in Gurukula system, he too joined. Continuous change of schools made him a loner, but self-dependent too.

He completed his advanced studies in Sunnyvale, California, where he lived with his father, and to pursue his dreams as a filmmaker he enrolled for film making course at New York Film Academy, Los Angeles. Once he returned to Mumbai he attended Kishore Namit Kapoor Acting Institute.

He wanted to become a filmmaker, but became an actor

He started his acting career as a child artist in Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988) and later appeared in Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander (1992). He portrayed young Aamir Khan in both these films directed by his maternal uncle, Mansoor Khan. He returned to acting in 2008, when he was launched in a lead role by his uncle Aamir Khan in the movie, Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na. The story of two friends, the rom-com was a blockbuster. His fresh pairing with Genelia D’Souza was well received, so are the songs. He later signed a string of romantic and action films in a row.

His next two releases – Kidnap and Luck flopped at box office. He bounced back with the success of I Hate Luv Storys, and started doing similar kind of films. Movies like Delhi Belly, Mere Brother Ki Dulhan and Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu became commercial hits, while Jhootha Hi Sahi, Break Ke Baad, Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola, Once Upon a Time in Mumbai Dobaara, Gori Tere Pyaar Mein and Katti Batti became commercial failures. Katti Batti in 2015 was his last release. In 2018 he directed a short film, Mission Mars: Keep Walking India, and stayed away from limelight after that. He married Avantika Malik in 2011, whom he dated for 10 years. A baby girl was born to them in 2014.

Imran Khan – Some interesting and less-known facts

1. He is a social activist, and has written columns for the Hindustan Times. He is a supporter of PETA.

2. He is the son-in-law of Vandana Malik, CEO of the CNBC-TV18 business news channel.

3. He completed his schooling in Gurukula model, where school had no electricity, students cultivated eatables and washed their own clothes and dishes.

4. His negative role in Kidnap earned him Apsara Film & Television Producers Guild Awards for Best Actor in a Negative Role, and many other honours.

5. His uncle Aamir Khan co-produced two movies starring Imraan Khan – Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na and Delhi Belly, and both were commercial hits.

Top Bollywood songs featuring Imran Khan

1. Choomandar from Mere Brother Ki Dulhan

2. Ishq Risk from Mere Brother Ki Dulhan

3. Madhubala from Mere Brother Ki Dulhan

4. Title track from Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na

5. Aditi Has De from Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na

6. Pappu Can’t dance from Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na

7. Nazrein Milana from Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na

8. Kahin Toh from Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na

9. Adhoore from Break Ke Baad

10. Dooriyan from Break Ke Baad

11. Title track from Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu

12. I Hate Luv Storys from I Hate Luv Storys

13. Bahara from I Hate Luv Storys

14. Sadka Kiya from I Hate Luv Storys

15. Jab Mila Tu from I Hate Luv Storys

16. Khudaya Ve from Luck

17. Jee Le from Luck

18. Mausam from Kidnap