Zee TV’s popular drama Jagadhatri (Rahul Tewary Productions) is currently witnessing a massive narrative shift. At the centre of the action is Imran Khan, who portrays the character of Mahesh Deshmukh. In a recent candid reflection with IWMBuzz.com, the seasoned actor opened up about his grounded acting philosophy, his deep respect for legendary inspirations, and the dramatic, game-changing twist involving his on-screen son, Shivay.
For the first time, I heard clapping in the room after my sequence. It felt good when people appreciated me; such things motivate actors.
Unlike the modern trend of method acting, Imran Khan prefers to keep his craft pure, intuitive, and deeply rooted in empathy. “I am not a method actor, where you become that character. I try to keep it simple,” Imran shares. “I try to keep myself in that position, and think about how I would react to the situations.”
To perfect his performance, Imran looks to the golden era of Indian cinema for guidance. Actors like Balraj Sahni and Dilip Kumar are his inspirations. “I watch classic videos of these legends to learn from their subtle body language. I read my scenes many times. I also look at how my co-actor acts and reacts to situations and accordingly play myself.”
Imran credits his younger co-stars, Farman Haider and Sonakshi Batra, for making the workspace incredibly collaborative and effortless. Recalling the recent, high-intensity emotional sequence where Mahesh finally accepts Shivay as his son, Imran reveals that the tears on screen were completely real. “The moment I looked at Farman, I started crying, seeing his reaction. I did not have to use glycerin, and it was a one-take shot for me. For the first time, I heard clapping in the room after my sequence. It felt good when people appreciated me; such things motivate actors,” he chides.
The character of Mahesh Deshmukh has been a simmering volcano—silent for years for the sake of his family’s integrity, but fiercely formidable when pushed to the brink. “Mahesh hid the truth for years to protect his family. When Shivay initially approached him with the truth, a sceptical Mahesh insulted him and sent him away. The turning point arrived when Aarti began humiliating Shivay. Unable to stand by any longer, Mahesh shattered his silence to stand up for his blood.”
Speaking about the new dynamic when it comes to the father and son, he says, “Mahesh Deshmukh is not afraid of anybody now,” Imran asserts. “The same man who once rejected Shivay is now prepared to act as an impenetrable shield, protecting his son from every impending threat.”
With the truth out in the open, the power dynamics inside the Deshmukh household are bound to fracture. Imran promises that the narrative is only going to get more gripping from here on, teasing a rocky road ahead for the family. “Picture abhi baaki hai!! The game is on! The narrative will only get more interesting now. A lot depends on the viewers too—if they like this twist and sequence, I am sure there is a lot to play with.”
