While many Bollywood buffs are aware of the relationship between Shahid Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor Khan years ago before they found love again in Mira Rajput and Saif Ali Khan, filmmaker Imtiaz Ali witnessed the breakup of the couple which happened during the shoot of their biggest blockbuster Jab We Met. The romantic comedy, which was not only a blockbuster but is also hailed as a cult classic even today, catapulted their career yet again to the top but on the personal front, it saw the couple parting ways.
Addressing the same during a recent interaction, filmmaker Imtiaz Ali asserted that despite their tumultuous relationship during the shoot of the film, followed by their breakup, none of it affected its shoot and the two actors were thoroughly professional. “Most of the film was shot. There were two days after their so-called break-up that we had to shoot. They were absolutely professional. No blemish, nothing at all, whatever is happening in their personal lives,” he told Galatta India.
He further went on to talk about the ‘not-so-successful’ professional phase the two actors were experiencing at that point of time in their careers and added, “That time Shahid and Kareena were not doing supremely well. But these ups and downs keep happening in the lives of filmmakers and actors. But as filmmakers we don’t have to speculate like the stock market, judge what we think is right for a particular part and only that works. This is the learning of my life.”
Speaking about how Jab We Met was the most rejected film in his life, Imtiaz also revealed that he wanted to first make the film with Bobby Deol and Preity Zinta but it failed to materialize. He shared, “Bobby was doing some other work, so I thought let it be, let’s not make this film together. We shook hands on that.” He also talked about approaching Preity Zinta and how she complimented the script and added, “That was the first time somebody had complimented the film. So, I owe it to her and whenever I meet her, I give her a special hug and thank her that, ‘You were the first person, who told me this film is ok.’ So, Bobby and Preity Zinta is the pairing I wanted but it didn’t happen.”
Jab We Met is a rom-com where a cheerful, self-loving girl transforms the life of a depressed man in a short journey from Mumbai to Bhatinda and how his love helps her regain herself when she starts losing confidence in life. The film, which released in 2007, went on to win several accolades, and turned out to be a career-defining film for both Shahid Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor Khan.
Also Read: Imtiaz Ali opens up on the possibility of the sequel to Shahid Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor starrer Jab We Met
