Imtiaz Ali was on the verge of going to jail during the filming of “Jab We Met”. The director shared a shocking incident where he received a court summons and a non-bailable arrest warrant was issued against him.
Ali revealed that the warrant was issued because the film allegedly damaged the reputation of the city of Ratlam, which is famous for its local delicacies like chivda and fafda. The complaint claimed that the director had wrongly portrayed Ratlam as a red-light district, which angered the community.
The director was shooting in Kolkata when he received the news. His producer, Dinesh Vijan, rushed to him and said, “Sir, there’s a non-bailable arrest warrant, and if they find out you’re here, they’ll come and arrest you.” Ali replied, “But we were just in the newspapers yesterday, saying we’re shooting here.”
Vijan warned Ali that if he got arrested, it would cause him harm. The director’s costume designer joked that she would bring him food in jail.
“Jab We Met” is a romantic comedy film released in 2007, starring Kareena Kapoor Khan and Shahid Kapoor. The film was a box office hit.
In an interview with film critic Anupama Chopra, Ali shared the incident and said that it was his first time receiving a court summons. He had to be careful to avoid getting arrested, which could have disrupted the filming of “Jab We Met”.
The film’s success can be attributed to the chemistry between the lead actors and the direction of Imtiaz Ali. Despite the challenges he faced during filming, Ali managed to create a memorable movie that still resonates with audiences today.
Ali’s experience with the court summons and arrest warrant is a fascinating behind-the-scenes story that sheds light on the challenges filmmakers face when creating movies that may be perceived as controversial or sensitive.