Acclaimed filmmaker Imtiaz Ali recently opened up about one of his most celebrated films, ‘Highway’. Starring Alia Bhatt in the lead, the director revealed that he initially envisioned a more mature actor for the role. However, after meeting the 18-year-old Alia, he knew she was the perfect fit.
Kareena Kapoor Was Always the First Choice for Jab We Met
In a conversation on the Game Changer YouTube channel, Imtiaz Ali discussed his casting process. He shared that when writing a film, he usually has a clear picture of the character in mind. For Jab We Met, he always saw Kareena Kapoor as Geet.
“When I am writing, there is a figure in my mind. When you meet people, they match the spirit of the character. I always wanted Kareena for Jab We Met. Initially, this wasn’t happening, but then she came in to do the film. She was my first choice to play Geet,” Imtiaz said.
Why Imtiaz Ali Chose Alia Bhatt for Highway
Speaking about Highway, Imtiaz admitted that casting decisions often surprise him. Initially, he wanted a 30-year-old, mature actor for the role of Veera, someone who had seen the world and would rebel against it. However, his perception changed after meeting Alia Bhatt.
“There is no arithmetic in our work; it’s an instinctive process. I thought I would cast a 30-year-old, mature actor for Highway—someone who had seen the world and would rebel. But when I met Alia, I thought, ‘This is the girl.’ Alia was just 18 at that time, but she had the emotional depth the character needed. She hadn’t done much work then, and I hadn’t even seen Student of the Year, but the way she spoke—it was very charming. She had a quality about her that was fantastic for this part,” Imtiaz explained.
Mahesh Bhatt Convinced Alia to Take the Role
Imtiaz Ali also revealed that Mahesh Bhatt, Alia’s father and a veteran filmmaker, played a crucial role in convincing her to take on Highway.
“I used to go to her house, and Bhatt sahab was trying to convince her to do it. She was a bit scared because every scene had her in it. She doubted whether she would be able to do it since it wasn’t an easy film to take on,” Imtiaz shared.
Despite her initial hesitation, Highway turned out to be a career-defining performance for Alia Bhatt, earning her widespread critical acclaim and proving her versatility as an actor.
