India, March 11 -- Two decades of creating cult classics such as Jab We Met (2007) and Love Aaj Kal (2009), and yet, filmmaker Imtiaz Ali describes his journey in showbiz as unreal. As he marks 20 years in the film industry since his debut with Socha Na Tha (2005), he humbly reflects, "It's a dream run," adding, "I never would have expected to be here. I still can't believe I am here, getting to do such fascinating work and being paid for it! I am the luckiest person on Earth, especially because I have got support from strangers in the film industry."

Imtiaz's journey seems to have come full circle with the success of his 2024 release Chamkila, which was both critically acclaimed and received well by the audiences. However, there is anot...