Renowned Indian filmmaker and director Imtiaz Ali has revealed that he was once kidnapped during his college days in Delhi, describing the incident as a surprising experience that ultimately led to lasting friendships.

Speaking to Indian media while promoting his upcoming romantic drama film, the 55-year-old filmmaker recalled that he became caught in tensions between two student organizations during his time at college. According to Ali, the incident stemmed from a dispute over political posters on campus, which eventually resulted in his abduction.

Reflecting on the experience, Ali said that although the situation could have turned into a frightening ordeal, it unexpectedly became a positive memory. He noted that living in Delhi often made young people more aggressive and that he, too, possessed a similar attitude during his student years. However, he emphasized that the episode transformed into a meaningful learning experience over time.

The filmmaker remarked that the incident helped him build numerous friendships and broadened his perspective on life. Looking back, he feels that many of his actions during that period were driven by youthful stubbornness rather than careful judgment.

Ali also revisited his days at Delhi’s Hindu College in 1993, a time when rivalry between supporters of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) frequently created tensions on campus. Student politics, he recalled, was highly charged, often leading to confrontations between rival groups.

Today, one of India’s most acclaimed filmmakers, Imtiaz Ali views the episode not as a traumatic event but as an unusual chapter of his youth that unexpectedly resulted in valuable friendships and personal growth.

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