Imtiaz Ali Reveals How Subhash Ghai Saved Socha Na Tha from Not Releasing

Imtiaz Ali attended the Celebrate Cinema 2026 festival at Whistling Woods International, where he interacted with the media alongside Subhash Ghai and Meghna Ghai Puri. During the event, Imtiaz shared how the veteran filmmaker played a crucial role in ensuring his debut romantic comedy Socha Na Tha (2005) received a theatrical release.

Imtiaz revealed that his debut film was stuck due to issues involving the producers. Subhash Ghai’s wife, Mukta Ghai, saw the film on the Examining Committee of the CBFC and liked it. After Subhash Ghai watched the film at a screening arranged for him, he bought it at a price higher than its actual value and acquired the negative rights solely to secure a theatrical release for the project, which marked the debut of Abhay Deol and also starred Ayesha Takia.

Reflecting on their relationship, Imtiaz also recalled a time when Subhash Ghai was angry with him because Subhash had signed him for a film, but Imtiaz backed out and told him he could not do it. Imtiaz later found a way to pacify him while Subhash was in Mauritius.