Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali has offered an update on his next project following Main Vaapas Aaunga, revealing that he is currently busy writing a new story and has yet to finalise its cast. The director, who recently attended the Jagran Film Festival with producer Mohit Chaudhary, also spoke about his creative process, his desire to collaborate with actor Fahadh Faasil, and why he allows his characters and stories to evolve organically rather than developing them separately.
During the media interaction, Imtiaz was asked about his earlier statement that he wanted to give audiences a ‘return gift’ after Main Vaapas Aaunga, a contemporary romance drama. Clarifying what he meant, the filmmaker explained that the idea came from his interaction with viewers and his desire to make his next film something special for them. However, he is not yet certain whether the upcoming project will be a romantic drama.
“All I said was that after meeting the audience, I felt like giving them a gift—and making my next film a gift for them, for sure. It will be contemporary. Whether it will be a romantic drama, I don't know yet. I am currently in the process of writing a story, and when you're writing, you don't necessarily have specific actors in mind,” Imtiaz said.
The director also addressed the growing curiosity surrounding the film's casting, pointing out that speculation often begins before a project has even taken shape. With fans eager to know which actors might feature in his next directorial venture, Imtiaz maintained that nothing has been confirmed so far.
“I know this is always a tricky topic—everyone keeps asking, ‘Who's in it? Who's in it?’ I tell them, ‘Look, even before you find out, the news will already be out there!’ Sometimes people speculate, ‘Oh, maybe it's this person or that person,’ but nothing is confirmed yet. I'm just writing a story; I hope it turns out well,” he added.
Addressing reports linking V. Raja, Rohit Saraf and Sara Arjun to upcoming projects, Imtiaz clarified that not everything being reported was accurate, while noting that they were about to begin shooting. He also expressed a keen interest in working with Malayalam star Fahadh Faasil, revealing that the two had previously tried to collaborate but could not make it happen.
“Oh, I definitely want to work with Fahadh Faasil! We tried to make it happen, but it didn't work out—though we are still in touch. I think the enthusiasm is mutual on both sides, so at some point, I will have the pleasure of working with him,” the filmmaker said.
Imtiaz also opened up about his approach to storytelling when asked how he builds the distinctive worlds and characters that define his films. Rather than treating character development as an isolated exercise, he explained that he discovers his characters as the larger narrative takes shape.
“I don't write characters separately from the story; I write the story as a whole. Often, while I'm writing, I discover new things myself. I don't think I'm writing purely from the intellect at that moment—it's more from the heart, and that's how things evolve. I don't approach it as a separate, isolated process,” he explained.
For now, Imtiaz is keeping the details of his next film under wraps as he concentrates on completing the story. While the promise of a contemporary film has given fans something to look forward to, its genre, cast and release timeline remain unconfirmed. As the filmmaker continues developing his next project, audiences will have to wait to discover what his promised ‘gift’ eventually becomes.