Ananya Lohia , Mumbai - Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali recently opened up about a frightening incident from his college days, revealing that he was once abducted from his Delhi hostel by a local gang after a disagreement over a political poster.

Speaking on Unfiltered with Samdish, the director recalled the incident that took place while he was a student at Hindu College, from where he graduated in 1993. According to Imtiaz, the episode began amid the intense rivalry between student groups NSUI and ABVP on campus.He explained that a political poster had been pasted on the front wall of his hostel. Believing it spoiled the building's appearance, he removed it and placed it on a side wall instead. However, the act angered those who had put up the poster.A few days later, around 2 a.m., hostel mates warned him that a group of men was coming for him. The gang allegedly forced him into a cycle rickshaw and took him to a government-quarters-like location, where he was questioned by a local gang leader associated with a political organisation.

Imtiaz clarified that he had not torn the poster but had simply relocated it. The situation took an unexpected turn when the gang leader discovered that his associates had falsely claimed the poster was destroyed. Angered by the misinformation, the leader confronted and slapped one of his own men for lying, allowing Imtiaz to walk away unharmed.

The filmmaker is currently awaiting the release of his upcoming film, Main Vaapas Aaunga, starring Diljit Dosanjh, Vedang Raina, Sharvari and Naseeruddin Shah. Set against the backdrop of Partition, the film explores themes of love, longing and intergenerational connections and is scheduled to release in theatres on June 12.