Imtiaz Ali chooses Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor over Deepika Padukone and Diljit Dosanjh - Here's which Bhatt film he wishes he had directed

Imtiaz Ali in a latest conversation has spoken about a whole lot of thing from Rockstar 2, to many other aspects of his career.

Imtiaz Ali Chooses Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor Over Deepika Padukone and Diljit Dosanjh

In recent days, the world of entertainment—especially Hindi cinema—has been buzzing with updates on every Imtiaz Ali project in the works. For the first time in his career, the filmmaker appears to be juggling multiple projects simultaneously, rather than focusing on one at a time. Naturally, this means he will remain in the limelight for months to come as his three upcoming projects gradually roll out. However, what truly keeps him in the news is his stellar filmography, which has helped shape an entire generation of cinema lovers. While Deepika Padukone’s Tara (Tamasha) remains iconic, and Alia Bhatt’s Veera (Highway) is one of the most cherished characters, have you ever wondered which actor Imtiaz Ali prefers today? Read on to find out!

Imtiaz Ali Picks Alia Bhatt Over Deepika Padukone

Imtiaz Ali has collaborated with Deepika Padukone on two films—Love Aaj Kal and Tamasha—and also wrote her breakout film, Cocktail. Meanwhile, he worked with Alia Bhatt in Highway, the film that firmly established her as a powerhouse performer. Now, on the latest episode of Game Changer with Komal Nahta, the director had to choose between the two in a rapid-fire round, and he picked Alia over Deepika—a moment that left fans intrigued! Ranbir Kapoor's Tamasha and 4 other Bollywood films that address mental health struggles and you can watch with your OTTplay Premium Subscription.

During the podcast, Komal played a rapid-fire round, where Imtiaz was asked to make quick choices. Between Deepika Padukone and Alia Bhatt, he chose Alia. When asked to pick between Ranbir Kapoor and Diljit Dosanjh, he selected Ranbir. However, the most interesting moment came when he was asked which film he wished he had directed between Kapoor & Sons and Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna—he chose the Alia Bhatt, Sidharth Malhotra, and Fawad Khan starrer Kapoor & Sons.

Also Read: Imtiaz Ali at 53: Look back at the films that shaped Bollywood

Imtiaz Ali on Highway & Alia Bhatt’s Casting

In the same conversation, Imtiaz Ali opened up about Highway and how Alia Bhatt was never his initial choice for the film. He revealed that Alia was hesitant to sign up, and it was her father, Mahesh Bhatt, who ultimately convinced her to take the role.

He shared, "There is no arithmetic in our work; it’s an instinctive process. Initially, 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.’ She was just 18 at the time, but she had the emotional depth the character needed. She hadn’t done much work, and I hadn’t even seen Student of the Year, but the way she spoke—it was very charming. She had a quality that was perfect for this role."

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He further revealed, "I used to visit her house, and Bhatt Sahab (Mahesh Bhatt) was trying to convince her. She was a bit scared because every scene had her in it. She doubted whether she could pull it off, as it wasn’t an easy film to take on."

Alongside Alia Bhatt, Highway also featured Randeep Hooda in a leading role and remains one of the most critically acclaimed films of 2014. Stay tuned to OTTplay for more updates on Imtiaz Ali, Bollywood, and everything from the world of streaming and films!-

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