Imtiaz Ali Gives Shah Rukh Khan’s Jab Harry Met Sejal 3/10; Calls It ‘Lost Opportunity’

Imtiaz Ali has delivered several acclaimed romantic dramas over the years, including Jab We Met, Rockstar, Highway and Tamasha. However, one film that continues to remain a painful chapter in his career is Jab Harry Met Sejal, starring Shah Rukh Khan and Anushka Sharma. Released in 2017, the film marked Imtiaz’s first collaboration with Shah Rukh Khan and generated massive anticipation before release. However, the film failed to impress critics and audiences and eventually underperformed at the box office. Years later, Imtiaz has once again reflected on the film’s failure and admitted that he considers it a missed opportunity.

Imtiaz Ali Gives Shah Rukh Khan’s Jab Harry Met Sejal 3/10

During an appearance on Unfiltered by Samdish, Imtiaz Ali was asked to rate Jab Harry Met Sejal out of 10. The filmmaker gave an unexpectedly blunt response. “3,” he said.

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When asked why he rated the film so low, Imtiaz candidly admitted that he feels he could have handled the story differently. “I feel it was an opportunity lost because of the potential of the story. I should have dealt with it in a different way.” He added, “I liked the potential of the story more than the story and definitely more than the film.”

Imtiaz then elaborated on the emotional world he originally wanted to explore through Harry’s character. According to him, the story revolved around loneliness, emotional tenderness and heartbreak experienced by someone navigating an unfamiliar world. “So in Harry Sejal, I felt there are many people like this, for instance, a man from a small village who, being Punjabi, is fascinated by the idea of going abroad. He goes there with the tenderness and innocence of his heart, but gradually becomes hardened by life. Say he falls for a girl there, and when he gets a chance to be intimate with her, it becomes a deeply tender moment for him. If he misses that opportunity, he would keep thinking about it all night.”

Imtiaz Ali’s Emotional Idea Behind Jab Harry Met Sejal

He continued by explaining how repeated emotional hurt changes the character’s relationship with intimacy and vulnerability. He added, “But when this man sees that same girl being intimate with another man, what he goes through emotionally is something he cannot deal with. It would have been extremely difficult for him. Perhaps this happened to him once or twice. He is, after all, a boy from a small village, but in that environment, sex is often a transactional thing. So over a period of time, he decides that whenever he experiences intimacy, he will leave immediately after it ends. He will not stay back and allow himself to be tender, because that would hurt too much.”

This is not the first time Imtiaz Ali has openly spoken about the emotional impact of the film’s failure. In an earlier interview with Ranveer Allahbadia, the filmmaker recalled feeling deeply hurt after the film underperformed commercially. “‘So what if it didn’t do well, it is still your film,’ I was told. Toh mujhe bohot dard hua. It is an unfortunate child. I felt a sense of ownership over the film, I felt like telling it, ‘I am not embarrassed of you, brother; you are mine, as much as any other film of mine.’ So, in that moment, I felt a strange melancholy, ek ajeeb sa dard mehsoos hua, that oh this was an unsuccessful film.”

Imtiaz Ali Recalls Battling Dengue During The Film’s Release

He also admitted that he could sense disappointment around him during the film’s release period while simultaneously battling health issues. “Back then, calculations were happening; I was reading people’s faces, I could sense disappointment. I had dengue, so I was also bedridden for a month.”

Despite the film’s reception, Jab Harry Met Sejal continues to have a section of viewers who appreciate its music, emotional themes and Shah Rukh Khan’s unconventional portrayal of Harry.

On the work front, Imtiaz Ali is currently gearing up for the release of Main Vaapas Aaunga. Starring Diljit Dosanjh, Naseeruddin Shah, Vedang Raina and Sharvari Wagh. The film is slated to hit theatres on June 12.

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Also Read: Imtiaz Ali DEFENDS Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt Being Labelled ‘Nepo-Kids’; Says, “Outsiders Have It Easier”

Varsha Tiwari

Varsha Tiwari is a budding content writer passionate about Bollywood, pop culture, and the stories behind the spotlight. She enjoys breaking down trends, celebrity moments, and film narratives into engaging, reader-friendly content. Always curious and observant, she is currently pursuing a Master’s in Communication and Journalism. Outside of writing, she enjoys painting because storytelling doesn’t always need words to make an impact.