Mumbai: Celebrated filmmaker Imtiaz Ali recently shared a warm and amusing memory from the sets of his cult classic Rockstar, bringing smiles to fans. The anecdote emerged during an interaction with actress Sanjana Sanghi, who was a child artiste in the film and only 13 years old at the time.
Revisiting her early on-set experiences, Sanjana said, “I was just 13 then. Whenever Imtiaz sir would brief us about a scene, I genuinely felt almost hypnotised. During the shoot of the final scene of Rockstar, Jordan (Ranbir Kapoor) and I were waiting in a room where blood tests are usually done. That scene was shot at a hospital in Karol Bagh. Suddenly, Imtiaz sir pushed us slightly and said, ‘Come on, now perform!’”
Adding a humorous twist to the conversation, Imtiaz Ali recalled a light-hearted incident from the shoot. “I remember explaining a scene to Sanjana when she said, ‘No sir, I think it should be done differently.’ And Ranbir immediately backed her up saying, ‘Sir, she’s right.’ At that moment, I felt quite insulted in front of the entire crew,” he said, laughing.
The special fan meet saw Imtiaz Ali and Sanjana fondly revisiting memories of Rockstar, its unforgettable music, Irshad Kamil’s evocative poetry, and Ranbir Kapoor’s iconic performance—elements that continue to connect generations of audiences even today.
For Sanjana, Rockstar proved to be a defining early milestone that set her on a journey she had never imagined, marking her entry into the magical world of cinema.
Since then, she has carved a distinct identity well beyond the screen—from becoming a pop culture favourite as the emotionally resonant Kizie Basu in Dil Bechara to emerging as a Global Youth Advocate with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Today, Sanjana actively champions youth-led development and inclusion on global platforms.
Currently, the actress is also looking ahead with excitement to her upcoming projects. From a wide-eyed child on the sets of Rockstar to a young artist whose voice now resonates across cultural and social landscapes worldwide, Sanjana Sanghi’s journey truly comes full circle.
