With an uncle for producer and freshness of looks, arrived another 'Khan' to the B-land of dreams. This Khan was slightly different with his shy nature, on-the-face sense of humor and no dreams to be an actor what so ever. Imraan Khan bought back the long lost 'chocolate-boy' charm and as we remember it was Amir Khan who was last to be considered with the same title. Before he could be rejected as 'yet-another-Khan' in an already long list of title holders, his debut film Jane tu ya jane na hit the bulls eye knocking over the other newcomer, Harman Baweja. A new star was born in the horizon of the glamor sky.

Imran is an American-born Indian actor with a British decent and a Bengali trait. Born 13 January to Anil Pal and Nuzhat Khan (Amir's sister), Imran is originally titled 'Pal' and not 'Khan'. Basically a food lover, Imran hates to work out and had to hit the gym to look bulky for his upcoming film Kidnap also starring Sanjay Dutt and Minishaa Lambda. According to him, cooking is therapeutic and his favorite dish is Daal tadka and rice.

While girls can’t stop raving about his cute chocolatey looks, boys can’t stop being envious of the attention he commands among their girlfriends. And if you thought it was enough to get him an attitude, for Imran "the success hasn’t even sunk in." For, right now, he’s busy reeling "under the pressure of bagging an even bigger hit with Kidnap. Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na (JTYJN) was a surprise hit. But its remarkable success has doubled the pressure for me. When I came in JTYJN, I was on a clean slate, but now people will be able to compare me with my last performance, which means – my this film has to be better than the last. It’s a tall order, you see!"

To ensure as much, the first thing required of Imran was to give up his chocolatey looks. So, to look a convincing kidnapper in the film, "my look had to be so designed that I looked tougher and meaner, for which I got this barged hairstyle and overall stubble. I had to gym regularly to bulk up my muscles besides an intensive three-week training in parkour for which we got down a trainer from London." He pauses only to explain, "Parkour is a style of movement that incorporates martial arts and gymnastics. If you’ve seen the film’s promos where I’m jumping from one building to the other... that’s parkour. It’s quite expensive and since they were charging per day, I had to train for six to eight hours everyday. So much so, after the initial few days, I could barely walk."

But was it easy switching gear from the young cute college boy of JTYJN to this rough and tough kidnapper? "The contrast in films was never a bother. I really liked the idea of stretching myself. I know there’s this convention that you don’t attempt something like this, a grey character, so early in your career. But conventions don’t bind me. I take my own decisions. I believe, if you don’t make a mistake, it’s your own mistake to make."

Well, his success sure prompts us to ask him how has his life changed post JTYJN: "I’m given better service at restaurants, I get tables as soon as I enter, there are a lot of waiters hanging around willing to take my orders. I get invited to a lot of parties. Lots of people want to give me money for various things." But even as he shares the after effects of his success, he adds with disarming ease, "But I accept nothing." No wonder you continue to be such a charmer, Imran!

Trivia:

Birth name: Imran Khan Pal

Date of Birth: 13 January 1983

Religion: muslim

City: Madison, Wisconsin

Country: USA

Mother: Nuzhat Khan

Father: Anil Pal

Girlfriend: Avantika Malik (daughter of Vandana Malik)

Education: acting course, he studied in Los Angeles

Other facts: wanted to be a director

Debut Film: Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak

Languages: Hindi, English

Previously on Spotlight:
Lara Dutta
Kunal Kapoor
Minissha Lamba
Arjun Rampal
Mallika Sherawat
Neil Nitin Mukesh
Malaika Arora Khan
Sonam Kapoor
Shilpa Shetty
Kangna Ranaut
Rani Mukherji
Aamir Khan
Salman Khan
Amitabh Bachchan
Emraan Hashmi
Amisha Patel
Abhishek Bachchan
Shahid Kapoor
Priyanka Chopra
Neha Dhupia
John Abraham
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
Preity Zinta
Akshay Kumar
Shahrukh
Kajol
Katrina Kaif
Kareena Kapoor
Bipasha Basu
Saif Ali Khan
Deepika Padukone
Ranbir Kapoor
Hrithik Roshan