Imtiaz Ali in Jaipur: Explains Why Main Vapas Aaunga Is Winning Audiences

Can a film without big stars still win over audiences? Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali believes it can - and he came to Jaipur to prove his point.

Speaking to the press during a recent visit to the city, the director explained that a film's real strength lies in its story and craftsmanship, not just star power. Talking about his latest release, Main Vapas Aaunga, Ali admitted that since the film wasn't built around a major star, a massive opening was never really on the cards. According to him, good films take their time to find an audience - and true success comes when viewers start recommending the film to one another.

Main Vapas Aaunga has been steadily winning over audiences at the box office, riding largely on strong word of mouth. It was this success that brought Ali to Jaipur, where he met with fans and thanked them for the love the film has received.

Betting on New Faces: "Story Is the Real Strength"

Asked about his decision to work with relatively new actors, Imtiaz Ali said his faith has always rested in the power of performance and storytelling rather than the commercial machinery of the film industry. That said, he didn't shy away from acknowledging that Diljit Dosanjh's presence on the posters and in the promotions played a significant role in grabbing audience attention - pointing out that Diljit today commands a truly global following.

A Love Story Rooted in the Pain of Partition

On weaving the tragedy of India's Partition into the film's backdrop, Ali shared that conversations with people who actually lived through Partition taught him an important lesson - that no love story can exist in isolation from its society and history. To make the romance between the film's lead characters, Keenu and Zia, feel authentic, he felt it was essential to portray the real conditions of that era.

"Today's Youth Need Love and Trust More Than Ever"

Reflecting on the current generation, Ali observed that while today's young people may be navigating more confusion and pressure than ever before, their longing for genuine love and deep, trusting relationships runs deeper than people realize.

Main Vapas Aaunga stars Diljit Dosanjh, Naseeruddin Shah, Sharvari, and Vedang Raina in lead roles, and is being released nationwide under the Birla Studios Worldwide banner.