'They Came For Me At 2 AM': Imtiaz Ali Recalls Shocking Kidnapping-Like Ordeal During College Days

Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali has recently opened up about a shocking incident from his student years. He revealed that during his college days, he was once forcibly taken from his hostel, which was in Delhi.

The incident happened after a disagreement in regards to campus politics. The dispute felt minor over a poster. However, things spiralled into a tense late-night encounter, that could have ended very differently.

Imtiaz recalled the incident which took place in Hindu College, from where he graduated in 1993. Speaking on Unfiltered with Samdish, he talked about how rival political groups, frequently clashed on campus during that period.

How Did The Matter Eventually Start?

Imtiaz stated that the trouble started when members of a student organisation pasted a political poster on the front wall of his hostel. Imtiaz objected. Instead, he suggested that posters should be placed on the side walls. Despite his request, the poster was deliberately put up on the front wall again.

Imtiaz felt that it had affected the appearance of the hostel so, he removed the poster and shifted it elsewhere. The matter appeared to be settled in that hour. But, a few days later, the situation took an alarming turn.

How Was Imtiaz Kidnapped?

Imtiaz recounted that around 2 am, a fellow hostel resident warned him that a group of men were on their way to confront him. Moments later, they arrived and forced Imtiaz to accompany them. He felt confused and uneasy and asked where they were taking him.

Imtiaz witnessed a cycle rickshaw waiting outside. The group allegedly forced him into the rickshaw and transported him to an area which seemed like government-quarters. There, he was brought before a local man who was linked to a political outfit. The man questioned him about the poster incident.

What Saved Him That Night?

Imtiaz maintained that he had never destroyed the poster. He explained that his only action was, relocating it as he felt it did not belong on the front wall of the hostel. The discussion soon shifted to whether the poster had actually been torn down.

The filmmaker recalled that the gang leader directly asked one of his associates if Imtiaz had ripped the poster. The man admitted that Imtiaz had only removed it and not torn it. After his statement, the leader realised he had been misled.

The clarification reportedly triggered an argument within the group. The leader got furious over the misinformation and slapped the man for providing false details and exaggerating the matter. The confrontation among themselves ended the situation, and Imtiaz walked away unharmed.

Looking back, the filmmaker narrated the incident with a sense of disbelief. He described it as, one of the extraordinary experiences he ever had, in his college years.

Imtiaz Ali On Work Front

Imtiaz Ali is preparing up for his next directorial release, Main Vaapas Aaunga. The film features an ensemble cast including Diljit Dosanjh, Vedang Raina, Sharvari and Naseeruddin Shah. The film is slated to arrive in theatres on June 12.