What went wrong with Imran Khan? "He deliberately chose to quit," says a friend

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He made a very promising start with Abbas Tyrewala’s Jaan Tu…Ya Jaane Na on the same Friday as Harman Baweja in July 2008. Today both Imran and Harman have gone into oblivion. What went wrong with Imran’s career?

I remember how insecure Harman was about Imran’s debut…after all; Imran had the mighty Aamir Khan as his Maamu (uncle). Poor Harman had only Harry Baweja as his father. As luck would have it, Imran’s debut was a hit. He was seen as the Next Best Thing alongside Ranbir Kapoor.

Imran had the best of roles rolling out at his feet. He decided to turn his back on stardom. So says his close friend Akshay Oberoi. “He chose to quit. I can say that with certainty. He could’ve gotten more work if he wanted to…But I am not sure he enjoys fame at all.”

Uniquely, Imran has opted for anonymity over fame. There is no chance of a comeback. Imran is just not interested in being a film star.

A close friend of Aamir Khan says, “It is not that Aamir didn’t try to help Imran’s career. But after doing Aamir’s Delhi Belly (which Ranbir Kapoor had rejected) and some more films with top banners, Imran lost interest.

It’s not very clear whether he wants to pursue another career or where his income is coming from. But after Zaira Wasim (who also has an Aamir connection as she was introduced as his daughter in Dangal) Imran is another Bollywood star to turn his back on stardom. Says Imran's close friend, "He actively choose to quit. That I can assure you of. He would’ve gotten more work if he wanted to. I am not sure he enjoys fame at all."

Imran is not the first person in his family to quit stardom. His uncle filmmaker Mansoor Ali Khan also turned his back on showbiz.

Also Read: Imran Khan spotted in Mumbai after a long time; fans ask him to return on screen