It’s embarrassing: Imtiaz on comparisons with Yash Chopra

Actor Shah Rukh Khan recently compared

Imtiaz Ali (above) to legendary filmmaker Yash Chopra by calling him “modern day Yash Chopra”. However, Imtiaz feels nothing but too small for such a big comparison.

During a Twitter live, when a user asked Imtiaz to comment on this, he said, “It’s very embarrassing. I feel undeserving of that and it reminds me how small I am in comparison to Yash Chopra. I am not saying this for effect. I have grown up seeing Yashji’s films. I don’t know whether all of you realise the difference. The kind of films he has made... because he has made thrillers and films like Deewar (1975) and Kaala Pathar (1979). From there he has made Lamhe (1991) and these modern films with Shah Rukh and it’s a huge range and it’s a privilege.”

Imtiaz’s next film Jab Harry Met Sejal stars Shah Rukh and Anushka Sharma in the lead role but when asked if his films are a reflection of who he is personally, Imtiaz revealed something special about himself. “I don’t borrow my personal experience while directing a film. It’s also true that when I see in retrospect, I realise that some of my emotions and understanding of life have crept into the films, scenes and characters. There are so many things I realise that I am taking from my personality and character but I don’t realise it while I am making the film. I only realise it after it happens and when it’s too late,” says the filmmaker, who has directed films such as Jab We Met (2007) and Highway (2014).

Imtiaz adds, “Sometimes I feel when people watch my films, they get to know me personally more than people who are close to me.”

I feel undeserving of that [comparison] and it reminds me how small I am in comparison to Yash Chopra IMTIAZ ALI, FILMMAKER

Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali says that it’s unfair to draw comparison between him and legendary filmmaker Yash Chopra