Imtiaz Ali's films have a unique magic that we can't get enough of, and the wonderful rhythm they add to our lives is what makes him such a beloved director. The heart of his movies lies in the poetic essence of the songs, thanks to his long-time collaborator and close friend, Irshad Kamil. Together, they've created some stunning soundtracks for films like Rockstar, Tamasha, Highway, Amar Singh Chamkila, and more.

At the OTTplay Awards 2025 last night, Imtiaz Ali received the Best Director award for his Netflix film starring Diljit Dosanjh, with Irshad Kamil presenting the honor. Interestingly, it was the first time they shared a stage, marking a memorable moment in their journey together.

Imtiaz Ali and Irshad Kamil Share the Stage Together for the First Time

Imtiaz Ali shared his thoughts on his relationship with Irshad Kamil, saying, "It's been 20 years. For two decades, I've been making films, and whatever I want to express, Irshad just nails it. This time, he even told me, ‘Let me go.’ Yet, I still find myself saying, ‘Naadan parinde ghar aaja.’ During the monsoon, when Mumbai was heavily flooded, Irshad brought me a book while I was working on a film."

Irshad Kamil reminisced about their initial encounter, saying, "I happened to find his number, gave him a call, and introduced myself as Irshad Kamil, a songwriter eager to create music for his films. He mentioned that it was pouring rain and there was significant waterlogging in his area, so he suggested we postpone our meeting. The following day, I reached out again, reminding him, ‘I’m Irshad, and you asked me to call you back.’ That’s when Imtiaz invited me over."

Imtiaz Ali chimed in, "That connection is still going strong. Relationships like ours develop over time, and I find it just as hard to compliment Irshad as I do to compliment myself. It shows we have plenty of collaborative projects ahead."

Irshad wrapped up by saying, "It feels a lot like making a film, where you celebrate yourself and your crew. He’s a part of who I am. Imtiaz is me. This is the first time we’ve shared a stage together—we’ve never done this before."

OTTplay Awards 2025: Honoring the Finest in Streaming and Film

OTTplay: One Nation, One Awards, backed by Dabur and StockGro, is a nationwide platform celebrating the best in OTT entertainment. It highlights the most captivating films, series, and talents from all over India. This spectacular event united the finest from Bollywood and regional cinema, paying tribute to those who kept viewers engaged with binge-worthy content all year long.

The OTTplay Awards 2025 is brought to you by Real Juice and Kuhl, with StockGro powering the event. This standout occasion, in collaboration with HT City, features Flipkart Spoyl as the exclusive style partner, D Pauls as the travel partner, Amante as the premium lingerie partner, Propshop as the real estate partner, and Aussie Lamb & Krishinet Fiber as special partners. UDigital is on board as the ISP and IPTV partner, while Hyperlink serves as the event partner.

Keep an eye on MM for updates on this event and all things related to streaming and films.

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