Imran Khan comeback buzz: A passing social media trend or a true fan movement?

As a 90s kid, the early 2000s was the time I was trying to understand and explore life. And a lot of it was influenced by the Hindi films I saw then. While I was trying to figure out love and friendship, there came a boy with some romcoms that made it all seem so lovable and hunky dory, Imran Khan.

He became a master of romcoms giving one adorable flick after other. Be it the iconic Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na or I Hate Luv Storys, he was charming and lovable. But gradually he started disappearing from the screens. My mind wasn’t as analytical at the time to focus on reviews and box office figures. For me, a movie and an actor was good if I liked them. And I liked Imran.

After working for 7 years and giving multiple memorable performances and many failures too, the actor vanished from the screens. Whether it was just a sabbatical or had Imran Khan quit acting, no one knew. Slowly, the hope of him returning to the screens started to die, but a while ago, Imran himself reignited that fire.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Imran Khan (@imrankhan)

Imran Khan’s ‘million likes’ condition

On August 1, Zeenat Aman had put up an amazing video of her from a latest ad which her fans loved. However, one comment shifted the focus on something else altogether. A netizen named Aditi commented on the video, “Zeenat Ji ne bhi comeback karlia, patani mera @imrankhan kab karega.” To her and everyone’s surprise, Imran replied to the comment. He eventually put his comeback in the hands of his fans. The former actor said that he will make a comeback if his reply gets a million likes.

Imran Khan hints at his return to acting

Choose Filters

Normal

1977

Crema

Ludwig

Moon

Willow

Imran Khan dropped a comment on Zeenat Aman’s post asking for a million likes to make his acting comeback

Soon, the whole internet went into a frenzy with people liking the reply and even asking others to do the same. The thing turned into a riot and eventually likes were disabled on the comment. Since then, however, the buzz around the actor’s comeback has gotten stronger by the day. People have started requesting him to come back to films and even Imran has gotten more active on social media. It might be right to say, it has turned into a fan movement. But is it though or is it just a passing social media trend?

A passing trend?

In the time of Instagram reels today, every song, concept or anything seems to have a very short shelf life. People engage with something only until something else comes and replaces it. When it has become all about clout and follower numbers, no one wants to stay away from what’s ‘trending’. So, there is a chance that many fans engaging on the topic of ‘Imran Khan comeback’ could just be there for clout.

Getting a million likes on Imran’s comment became like the newest trend. So many out there would have been those who wouldn’t be invested at all in the subject. They won’t care if Imran comes back to films or not. But reacting on that subject might get them a lot of engagement on their personal account. And not just the selfish gain, but a lot of people who are actually looking forward to Imran’s comeback might give up on it once the buzz dies down a little.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Imran Khan (@imrankhan)

A fan movement?

But that is just one side of the coin. If we look at it from another perspective, it shows how social media has the power to induce change. The time when Imran came in the acting world, social media wasn’t the monster it is today. So, maybe his loyal fans didn’t get to have their voice reach him, but today they have that medium. The way the support for Imran erupted, shows the effect he had on his audience in his short stint. It even made him come out and start interacting with them more.

Imran became more active on social media, indulging in conversations with his fans. He recently opened up on how the negative reviews and comments on Break Ke Baad took over him. The negativity made him quit acting, but today, seeing the words of affirmation, makes him want to return. It truly is his fans’ support who made him even think about it. Truly, it depicts the power of fans.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Imran Khan (@imrankhan)

There has been buzz lately that Imran is in talks with his JTYJN director Abbas Tyrewala for his comeback project. I feel that the fate of that project, if it actually happens, would define what truly this whole thing is about. Will these same people who are urging Imran to come back, go and watch his work and appreciate it? Or this discussion will just limit till the virtual world? Only time will tell. But personally, I am someone who is really waiting for Imran Khan to comeback. He has been a part of my Bollywood memories and I need more new ones from him.

Also Read: Imran Khan admits he was a ‘fool’ to quit acting, hints at his comeback soon – Read on