Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali and actor Ananya Panday discuss cinema at the HT Leadership Summit

Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali and actor Ananya Panday attended the 24th Hindustan Times Leadership Summit on Saturday to talk about their work in cinema.

Movie Themes

Imtiaz discussed his recent film Main Vaapas Aaunga, which was released in June and streams on Netflix. The movie stars Naseeruddin Shah, Diljit Dosanjh, Sharvari, and Vedang Raina. Set during the India-Pakistan partition, Imtiaz stated he never considered the project risky or controversial. He explained that the story does not depict Pakistan, but rather an undivided India across a border established later.

Inspiration

The filmmaker shared that meetings with partition survivors inspired the tale. He wanted to capture how third-generation survivors and elderly people view the partition 78 years after independence, noting that these older individuals often remember happy and beautiful moments rather than negative ones.

Gen Z Appeal

Imtiaz also expressed confidence that the film would appeal to Gen Z viewers. He believes younger audiences relate strongly to painful love stories because they miss the deep commitment shown in films and books, which can be hard to find in real life today.

Context

Cultural events like leadership summits often host prominent figures from the film industry to discuss their creative processes and the social themes behind their art. The India-Pakistan partition remains a deeply emotional subject in South Asian history and cinema, inspiring numerous artistic works across generations.