I knew that this film had to be boy versus man. I had the man, Sanjay Dutt. I didn't want to cast the slightly older actors like Abhishek Bachchan or John Abraham. I wanted to go younger. Shahid Kapur would have been the youngest looking actor we had at that time but I wanted someone even younger with an even lesser screen age.

My writer Shibhani Bathija suggested Imran's name. So my producers called him and we met up. It took me three seconds to confirm that he was my Kabir. And then I just prayed that he could act! I did a test shoot with him and Minissha. He had a very good screen presence and responded to direction well. So I cast both of them.

His first film Jaane Tu is a romantic film. Do you think he will be accepted in the role of a kidnapper?

It was only after we had signed Imran that I got to know that he is doing a film called Jaane Tu.

But there's good and bad with everything. Had Imran not had any releases before Kidnap, it would have been Sanjay Dutt and a newcomer. That would have probably not given the film the buzz it has now. Imran has a huge fan following after Jaane Tu. Hopefully, Kidnap will get a great opening because of Imran and the fact that Sanjay Dutt is back after a long time.

On the flip side, Imran now has this 'image', which is not fair because it's just one film. I don't think it will work as a disadvantage because everyone knows that an actor is an actor and he will do different things in different films.

Was the age factor critical for Minissha Lamba's casting too?

No, it was the same problem. There is a shortage of young actresses like Amrita Rao. Actresses younger than her are Minissha, Genelia D'Souza, and Ayesha Takia. The next bracket is Kareena. I thought Minissha is very talented, and looks cute. I made her go to the gym and look fit -- not only for the swimsuit scene but also to match Imran. She has been in the industry longer than Imran so there would be a perception that she is older than Imran.

So do Imran and she fall in love?

I cannot tell you that.

But they have a romantic song.

Imran has got no song in the film. He is a very serious and grim character.

Also See: Minissha seduces Imran!

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