Bollywood director Imtiaz Ali recently revealed a surprising admission regarding his collaboration with Oscar-winning music director AR Rahman. Imtiaz and Rahman joined forces for the first time on the film Rockstar in 2011, followed by several other projects including Highway (2014), Tamasha (2015), and Amar Singh Chamkila (2024). During a recent round table discussion with Rahman, Mohit Chauhan, and Irshad Kamil, Imtiaz confessed that he approached meeting Rahman not with happiness or nerves, but rather with a sense of responsibility.
Imtiaz expressed in a Netflix India video that he didn’t feel happy or excited or nervous about meeting AR Rahman, seeing it more as a responsibility than a thrilling opportunity. Rahman remembered that the producer urged Imtiaz to approach him.
UTV producers proposed to take Imtiaz to Chennai, set up a meeting with AR Rahman, and pitch the story of ‘Rockstar’ to him. They emphasized the need to secure Rahman’s approval, as he typically didn’t give a straightforward yes or no. When Rahman finally asked about the story, Imtiaz recounted it eagerly, but he sensed that Rahman wasn’t fully grasping or connecting with the narrative as he spoke.
Imtiaz then paused briefly before restarting his pitch, this time by describing a scene with a dark screen accompanied by the sound of music, followed by the lyrics of “Nadaan Parinde.” He recited the lines, and when Rahman asked about their meaning, Imtiaz provided a translation. This moment marked a turning point in Rahman’s interest in the film. Imtiaz sensed that they were now on the same page, and he felt optimistic about Rahman’s involvement in the project.
‘Rockstar’, released in 2011, has earned cult classic status and it’s music album is considered as one of the best in recent times. The film featured Ranbir Kapoor in the lead role and marked the Bollywood debut of Nargis Fakhri.
Also Read: Bollywood Villain Who Worked With Ajay Devgn, Angelina Jolie Quitted Acting And Became Maulana
