Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali has opened up about a surprising and dramatic incident from his college days in Delhi that could have ended very differently. While promoting his upcoming film Main Vaapas Aaunga, the director revealed that he was once kidnapped during a student political dispute, but the experience unexpectedly led to lasting friendships.
Speaking about the incident, Imtiaz admitted that he was quite aggressive during his college years. According to him, living in Delhi at the time had a strong influence on his personality.
“I used to be very aggressive during my college days in Delhi. But it was not my fault at that time,” he said, reflecting on that phase of his life.
The filmmaker shared that the incident took place in 1993 when he was studying at Hindu College. Student politics on campus was intense, with rivalry between different political groups. Trouble started when someone pasted a political poster on the front wall of his hostel.
Imtiaz said he had no objection to the poster itself but felt it spoiled the appearance of the building. He simply removed it from the front wall and placed it on a side wall. However, the move was misunderstood and soon turned into a serious issue.
A few days later, he was woken up in the middle of the night and warned that a group of people was looking for him. Soon after, they arrived and allegedly forced him into a cycle rickshaw before taking him to a secluded government quarter.
There, he was questioned by the leader of the group, who believed Imtiaz had removed the political poster. When the truth came out that he had only shifted it and not destroyed it, the misunderstanding was cleared. The group leader reportedly even reprimanded his own associates for the confusion and allowed Imtiaz to leave.
Looking back, the director says the incident, which could have been frightening, turned into something positive.
“Whatever happened to me, it turned out to be a beautiful incident. I made a lot of friends because of that experience, which could have been horrific,” he shared.
Imtiaz also reflected on how age has changed his perspective. He admitted that people often speak out of stubbornness or a desire to prove themselves, but over time he has realised that public praise is not the most important thing in life.
The filmmaker spoke about the unusual chapter from his past while promoting his upcoming romantic drama Main Vaapas Aaunga. The film explores themes of love, loss, home, and the pain of Partition. It also marks his second collaboration with Diljit Dosanjh after Amar Singh Chamkila and reunites him with music legends A.R. Rahman and Irshad Kamil.
Set to release on June 12, 2026, Main Vaapas Aaunga is already generating excitement among fans. But for many, Imtiaz Ali’s candid story about his college days has offered a rare glimpse into the life experiences that shaped one of Bollywood’s most celebrated storytellers.
