Actor Imran Khan recently opened up about the harsh criticism that followed Delhi Belly’s initial private screening and how Aamir Khan stood by the movie in the face of it. In an interview, Imran revealed that the first cut was seen at Aamir Khan’s office by a small group of people, including himself, writer Akshat Verma, director Abhinay Deo, and members of Aamir’s inner circle.
One of Aamir’s close family friends had a strong reaction after the screening, allegedly saying, “Aamir, what have you done? What did you create? The same individual said, “Tu iska career barbaad kar dega” (You’ll ruin his career) while pointing to Imran.
“Your Name Will Be Destroyed”
Things got more intense when even Aamir’s security guard chimed in with criticism. “Sir, aaj tak aapne jo bhi naam kamaya hai, mitti mein mil jayega sab. Agar aap iss picture ko release karenge, aapka naam mitti mein mil jayega,” Imran quoted him saying.
According to Imran, the room was filled with negativity, with people describing the movie as “offensive, obscene, ugly, disgusting.” The general advice was: “Burn the negative. Don’t let anybody find out that you have made this film.”
Aamir Khan Did Not Flinch
Imran Khan admitted that both he and writer Akshat Verma were shaken. “We actually fell ill for two days,” he said. Despite the harsh feedback, Aamir remained calm. “He didn’t flinch,” Imran said. “He told us, ‘No, it is correct. You guys have shot the right film… the problem is only the edit.” The team went back, re-edited the film, and eventually released it.
Delhi Belly later gained cult status and is remembered for its bold humour and style. It eventually garnered praise for its talented cast, and Aamir Khan was also lauded for showing urban realism and for producing a film which was gritty, grimy, and unglamorous, a sharp contrast to glossy, larger-than-life aesthetics typical of mainstream Bollywood.
Aamir Khan is also widely respected for being brave enough to stick by this film, which he knew would receive backlash from mainstream audiences. It is one of the many reasons why his love for the craft of film can never be doubted.
