Imran Khan is a 23-year-old ring seller whose charm rivals that of the actor he shares a name with. When I approached Imran for this shoot (his first ever!), he agreed without a moment of hesitation.
His stall sits along a line of others on the bustling streets of Irla. There’s one exception on the stretch that isn’t exactly teeming. Prime Mall is a curious place; it's full of empty shops, out-of-service escalators, and an inexplicable number of phone accessory stores on the ground floor. The last time I saw a retail zone this dead, I was in Tāmaki. The top floor seemed solely occupied by an astrologer’s office and an abandoned shrine with a laser disco ball hovering above it... Obviously, we had found our location.
Once Imran arrived, it was clear that he was popular. He was greeted by all the shop assistants who were curious about our plans. As I hunched over my cabin bag to grab the first look, a woman yelled out, “Come inside, I have air conditioning!” Her head was peeking out of two glass doors decaled with images of white women with CGI hair, like the ones on the L’Oréal box dyes, and white feet immersed in a basin of rose petals. All the images had a lengthwise distortion and made it impossible to see inside. Imran nodded enthusiastically, glancing over at his friends who looked bored and primed to do some good-natured heckling.“Yeh aunty bahoot acchi hain,” he vouched. Her name is Yanki Lama, owner of Marry Makeover Beauty Salon, which she graciously let us take over for this shoot.
“Don’t just stand there like a statue, pose maar!” she instructed, before heading upstairs. We were off to a stiff start, Imran was nervous, and so was I. To find some inspiration, I asked him who his favourite actor was, “Shahrukh Khan.” In a country of over 330 million gods, he is firmly one of them. We looked at some of SRK’s movie posters and studied his poses, unashamedly boisterous, his star power radiating off my phone screen. Imran pushed his shoulders back and swept his hair. We were ready to go.
Where are you from originally and where are you based?
आप कहां से हैं और आप अभी कहां रहते हैं?
I’m from Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. I came to Mumbai in 2016. I moved here because I’m the eldest son in my family, and I have the responsibility of looking after my parents. My father had somehow managed to provide for us on his own, but it wasn’t quite enough. Especially once he hurt his leg and couldn’t work as much. We wanted to further educate my brother and sister too, so I came to Mumbai with my father to help my family.
मेरा गांव उत्तर प्रदेश अयोध्या हैं। मैं 2016 में मुंबई आया था। मैं यहां चला आया क्योंकि अपने मां हैं, पापा हैं और घर का बड़ा लड़का हूं।कैसा भी पापा अकेले से कमाते थे, उतने में गुज़ारा नहीं होता था, अब पापा के पैर में थोड़ीसी चोट लग गयी थी इस वजह से पापा ज़्यादा काम कर नहीं पाते थे।आगे भाई बहन को पढ़ना था तो में भी पापा के साथ हेल्प करने आया। मैंने सोचा कि मम्मी पापा और भाई बहन की हेल्प करूँ।
What’s your favourite song?
आपका फेवरेट गाना क्या हैं?
'Pal Pal' by Afusic.
Afusic का Pal Pal।
What’s your favourite movie?
आपका फेवरेट फ़िल्म क्या हैं?
Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna’s blockbuster movie Dear Comrade.
विजय देवरकोंडा और रश्मिका मंदाना का ब्लोकबस्टर
डियर कॉमरेड।
What’s your favourite meal?
आपका फेवरेट खाना क्या हैं?
My favourite dish is dal-rice, it’s simple and classic!
मेरा फेवरेट खाना डाल-चावल सबसे बेस्ट हैं। साधा और क्लासिक!
Where do you go to relax?
आप शांति महसूस करने के लिए कहाँ जाते हैं?
I go to Juhu Beach to feel at peace. You can sit there and relax for a while before heading back home.
शांति महसूस करने के लिए वैसे जुहू बीच हो गया, वहाँ जा के सुकून से, आराम से बैठ जाओ और रिलैक्स हो जाओगे और फिर चले जाओ अपने घर।
Where would you take someone visiting Mumbai for the first time?
आप पहली बार मुंबई आने वाले किसी व्यक्ति को कहां ले जाओगे?
I would first take them to Haji Ali dargah because it is a beautiful place. You can learn great lessons there and have good conversations. At the dargah, we then take dua (blessings) from the buzurg (revered elder or saint). By taking the dua, you will always live a happy and prosperous life.
मैं उन्हें पहले हाजी अली दरगाह ले जाऊंगा क्योंकि यह एक सुंदर जगह है।आपको वहां अच्छा सीख मिलेगा और अच्छी बातचीत कर सकते हैं। दरगाह में, हम फिर बुज़ुर्ग से दुआ लेते हैं। दुआ लेने से आप हमेशा एक खुशहाल रहो गे।
What would you like people to know about you?
आप क्या चाहते हैं की लोग आपके बारे में जाने?
I just want people to know my true nature, who I really am. According to myself, I try to do good and hope that people I come across respect me and think highly of me. Even if I meet a person once, I hope that they remember me and my personality and think that guy was great at everything! I hope I am always held in high regard and never fall from grace in anyone’s eyes.
मैं बस इतना चाहता हूँ कि लोग मेरे बारे में अच्छे से जानें कि मैं कैसा इंसान हूँ। मेरे हिसाब से, मैं अच्छा करने की कोशिश करता हूं और उम्मीद करता हूं कि जिन लोगों से मैं मिलता हूं वे मेरा इज़्ज़त करें कि यह इंसान, यह आदमी बहुत अच्छा हैं। अगर मैं किसी से एक बार भी मिलूँ, तो उम्मीद करता हूँ कि वो यही सोचेगा कि ये बँधा हर चीज़ में सबसे बेस्ट है! उम्मीद हैं की मैं किसी की नज़रों में नहीं गिरू, उनकी नज़रों में उटके रहूँ।
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
आपको दी गई सबसे अच्छा सलाह क्या हैं?
My parents’ advice which is to never think badly of anyone, never betray anyone, never cheat anyone and respect your elders.
माँ बाप जो सलाह देते हैं की कभी किसी का ग़लत ना सोचो, कभी किसी को धोका ना दो, कभी किसी के साथ फ्रॉड ना करो। अगर इंसान अपने से बड़ा हैं तो उनका रिस्पेक्ट, इज़्ज़त करो।
What is your dream or wish for the future?
भविष्य के लिए अपना सपना या इच्छा क्या हैं?
I have just one, to take good care of my family and hope that they will always be happy, and to help others as much as I can.
मेरे सपना और इच्छा एक ही हैं की में अच्छे से अपने माँ बाप भाई बहन को अच्छे से रखूँ और उनके लिए बहुत कुछ करूँ की वह हमेशा ख़ुश रहे। और जो मेरे लायक हो की में दूसरों का हेल्प करूँ।
How did you find the experience of your first-ever shoot?
आपको अपने पहले फोटोशूट का यह अनुभव कैसा लगा?
Mast! Super photoshoot, accha tha'.
Feature, Fashion & Photos: Natasha Ovely
Shot on location at Marry Makeover Beauty Salon in Mumbai
