Imtiaz Ali was recently a guest on Indian Idol, and he didn’t hold back when it came to sharing some seriously adorable behind-the-scenes moments with his longtime collaborator, AR Rahman. The filmmaker, known for his soulful storytelling, gave fans a peek into what it’s really like to work with the Oscar-winning composer — and let’s just say, the dedication is next level.
The 4:30 AM Studio Magic
Imtiaz revealed that just a night before the show, he was at Rahman’s studio working till 4:30 in the morning. Yes, you read that right — 4:30 AM! The host, Harsh Limbachiyaa, prompted the story, and Imtiaz went all out in praising Rahman’s insane work ethic.
“Kal raat ko hum kaam kar rahe the — I was at your studio till 4:30 in the morning,” Imtiaz recalled on stage. Rahman, in his typical humble style, laughed and admitted, “For the first time, I felt sleepy.” But here’s the kicker — even when the maestro felt tired, he just couldn’t stop. “Despite feeling sleepy, he would still get up and go to the keyboard. The love for the music, it’s so intense,” Imtiaz added, making everyone in the audience go aww.
A Fanboy Moment Times Five
This is the fifth film that Imtiaz and Rahman have worked on together, and the filmmaker confessed that his admiration has only grown. “Rehman sir ka fan jitna bada main pehle tha, yeh zarur keh sakta hoon ki unke saath paanch filmein karne ke baad main zyada bada fan ho gaya hoon,” he said, emphasizing that the magic Rahman creates is not pre-planned — it’s fresh every single time.
Imtiaz went on to say that working with Rahman is like a daily masterclass. “Every day I work with him, I discover something new which I try to emulate. I am really grateful for this chance that I’ve got,” he shared, and honestly, who wouldn’t feel the same? The duo has given us gems like ‘Rockstar’ and ‘Tamasha’, so yaar, the chemistry is real.
The Song That Deserves Your Attention
If you’re a true music lover, Imtiaz has a request for you. He urged everyone to listen to the song ‘Aazma Le’ from Taxi No. 9211, sung by Shekhar. “Agar kisi ne woh gaana nichoda nahi hai, nichod ke piya nahi hai, toh mera yeh intaza hai ki please aap woh gaana sune. Beautiful song,” he said, and we trust his taste completely.
Meanwhile, Imtiaz is busy promoting his next directorial venture, ‘Main Vaapas Aaunga’, starring Naseeruddin Shah, Vedang Raina, and Sharvari. The film is set to hit theatres on June 12, 2026. With Rahman reportedly on board for the music, we’re already counting down the days. Ab bas, ‘Aazma Le’ on repeat till then!