If Imtiaz Ali is elated with the positive response to his directorial outing ‘Jab We Met’ (after ‘Socha Na Tha’), he is nevertheless seems composed.

Is it because he is still surprised by the good box-office opening that the film has taken? “Well, I’ve always been a man of few words. But yes, the opening has taken me by surprise. I could sense good things happening for the film but such stupendous reactions have gladdened me,” says Imtiaz modestly. Doesn’t he feel that the Shahid-Kareena split would have played a major role in the film’s success? After pausing for a while says Imtiaz, “No! A star  couple’s break-up  or coming together doesn’t help a film. People do not have the inclination to step into a theatre  simply following the personal lives of the actors.”

The film did get an extra mileage due to the split, isn’t it? “A film getting mileage is one thing and eventually turning out to be healthy at the ticket counter is a different thing,” argues Imtiaz adding, “Ticket prices are high today and no one would shell out money just to watch a couple they have been reading about. If gossip entertains them, there are always tabloids and news channels; why spend money?”

Ask him if the extensive promotion by the producers (Ashtavinayak) helped and Imtiaz agrees, “Absolutely, the film’s promotion has been tremendous and the last two months made me feel that we were  going in the right direction. I made the film according to the dictates of my heart. I am happy that the vision has paid off.”