Imtiaz Ali has created some of Bollywood’s most iconic characters, from Kareena Kapoor Khan’s Geet in Jab We Met to Alia Bhatt’s Veera in Highway. In a recent interview, he revealed details about his casting process, explaining why Kareena was always his first choice for Jab We Met and how he ended up selecting an 18-year-old Alia Bhatt for Highway.
During a conversation on the YouTube channel Game Changer, Imtiaz Ali shared his vision for Geet’s character. “When I am writing, I always have a figure in mind,” he explained. “Geet’s way of talking, her energy, and her personality were all very distinct, and I saw all of that in Kareena Kapoor.” He further revealed, “I always wanted Kareena for Jab We Met. Initially, it wasn’t working out, but then she came on board. She was my first choice to play Geet.”
The 2007 film, co-starring Shahid Kapoor, became a cultural phenomenon. Kareena’s portrayal of the vibrant and free-spirited Geet remains one of Bollywood’s most memorable performances, making Jab We Met one of the most loved romantic films in Indian cinema.
Imtiaz Ali also discussed how his casting choices often evolve. While writing Highway, he initially imagined a more experienced actor for the role but ultimately cast a young Alia Bhatt.
“There is no arithmetic in our work; it’s an instinctive process. I thought I would cast a 30-year-old, mature actor for Highway—someone who had seen the world and would rebel. But when I met Alia, I thought, ‘This is the girl.’ Alia was just 18 at that time, but she had the emotional depth the character needed. She hadn’t done much work then, and I hadn’t even seen her film Student of the Year, but the way she spoke—it was very charming. She had a quality about her that was fantastic for this part.”
Interestingly, it wasn’t just Imtiaz Ali who played a role in Alia’s casting, it also took Mahesh Bhatt’s persuasion for her to sign Highway. “I used to go to her house, and Bhatt sahab was trying to convince her to do it. She was a bit scared because every scene had her in it. She doubted whether she would be able to do it since it wasn’t an easy film to take on,” Imtiaz revealed.
Both Jab We Met and Highway turned out to be career-defining films for Kareena Kapoor and Alia Bhatt, respectively. Jab We Met fast-tracked Kareena’s career, making her one of Bollywood’s top actresses, while Highway gave Alia early critical acclaim and showcased her acting prowess beyond mainstream cinema.
