SRK plays a guide in JHMS but he doesn’t know where he is going, says Imtiaz Ali

We have known for a while that Shah Rukh Khan will be playing the role of a guide in Imtiaz Ali’s Jab Harry Met Sejal. From the mini trails of the film, which were recently released, it is also clear that he is trying to help Anushka Sharma find her engagement ring. 

Imtiaz has now explained in detail about SRK’s character in the film while talking to a publication. “Harinder Singh Mehra (Harry) is a tour guide, who is guiding tons of people every day, taking them where they want to go,” he said. 

The character, however, is a lost guide. “But he is lost himself. He has not found what he is seeking. But every day in his life, there are hundreds of people reaching where they want to reach, which is just a tourist location that he is not even bothered to look at. He doesn’t know where he is going and yet he is a tour guide. That is a dramatic quality I wanted in this character,” added Imtiaz. 

Imtiaz has created the character of Harry from his personal experiences. “I don’t go for conducted tours or package tours. I’ve always been fascinated by tour guides. When they are taking clients and tourists to various beautiful destinations and when all the tourists are looking at those spots, the tour guides are looking the other way. They travel so much to the most beautiful locations that they become bored of them,” he said. 

It seems the director has also done a deep study of tour guides, including their psyche. “And in their personal lives they’re never looking out for what the world thinks is beautiful. There is a certain dramatic cynicism in that and that is how I feel Harinder (Harry) is in this film,” said Imtiaz. 

Jab Harry Met Sejal will be released on 4 August.