On the last day of 2025, actor-filmmaker Imran Khan took a moment to reflect on one of his most cherished projects—a short film focusing on India’s Mangalyaan mission.
In a recent post on social media, he expressed his fascination with this historic space achievement. He discussed the creative liberties he employed to bring the story to life and the talented team behind the project that made his vision a reality. On Instagram, he emphasized both the scientific marvel of the mission and the joy of storytelling.
Sharing his journey, the ‘Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na’ actor mentioned, “Back in 2018 I signed on to make a short film depicting the story of Mangalyaan; India’s mission to put a spacecraft into Martian orbit. A bit of a science nerd, I had keenly followed the events as they unfolded between 2013-2014, and was very excited at the opportunity to pay due respect to this remarkable achievement.”
He added, “I wanted to tell the story in a factual and science-accurate manner, while also treating the film like a suspense thriller, essentially giving scientists and engineers the ‘hero’ treatment usually reserved for gun-wielding protagonists.”
Imran elaborated on his creative decisions: “As such, I freely took liberties with the aesthetic of the film, dressing the characters in sharply tailored looks, constructing a slick control room set (Bindiya Chhabria) for which I specifically requested RGB gaming keyboards as a nod to my own fondness for video games, and generally dropping easter eggs and homages all over the place. Star Wars, Star Trek, Interstellar, Hitchhiker’s Guide… they’re all in there.”
He emphasized the importance of collaboration in filmmaking, stating, “All films are the result of collaborative effort, and my intentions would be nothing without the incredible group of people who poured their energy and talent into the project. Producer @punitdmalhotra always had my back, cinematographer @anujdhawan13 brought cinematic style and mood to the screen… and a wonderful cast of actors breathed life into the characters and lifted them off the page. It was a pleasure to make this film, do check it out.”
For those who may not know, Imran Khan, nephew of actor Aamir Khan, has been part of films like “Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na,” “I Hate Luv Storys,” “Mere Brother Ki Dulhan,” “Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu,” and “Delhi Belly.” He stepped away from acting after his 2015 film “Katti Batti,” explaining that he had lost interest in mainstream roles and wished to concentrate on his personal well-being.