Imran Khan, the beloved star of various rom-coms, has long captivated audiences with his on-screen charm. Fans have hailed him as a “green flag” for his portrayals of soft masculinity, which diverge from traditional, rigid representations of male characters in Indian cinema.
In a recent interview with News 18 Showsha, Khan discussed the evolving depiction of masculinity in films. He reflected on how cinema has historically portrayed both masculinity and femininity, noting significant changes in recent years. Khan’s comments come at a time when other actors, such as Ayushmann Khurrana and Rajkummar Rao, have gained recognition for their nuanced portrayals of soft masculinity, especially during Khan’s hiatus from the industry.
Khan emphasised that cinema mirrors societal evolution, highlighting that earlier portrayals of masculinity were often limited to strict, stereotypical roles. “Over the past twenty years or so, our cinema has really started to come of age,” he said, pointing out the shift towards more positive and inclusive representations of both masculinity and femininity.
One area of progress, according to Imran Khan, is the increasing representation of queer identities in mainstream films. However, he acknowledged that these portrayals have yet to fully reach the heart of the commercial industry. “Our largest commercial successes and the most popular mainstream content still lean quite heavily into retro portrayals,” Khan admitted. Nonetheless, he remains optimistic about the future of cinema and the continued progress it could make.
Khan also shared a personal revelation about his own experiences in the industry. In an Instagram post last year, the Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na actor opened up about the pressure to maintain a chiseled physique, admitting to using artificial supplements in his early career to achieve the desired “superhero” look. Eventually, he realised the unsustainable nature of these methods and decided to embrace his natural body.
On the professional front, Khan’s last film was Katti Batti in 2015, after which he took a break from acting. While he was set to return in a spy-thriller directed by Abbas Tyrewala, the project was shelved due to Hotstar’s merger with Jio. Khan expressed relief at the cancellation, stating that he no longer wished to portray characters who “solve problems with a gun.”
