There are not many places in potholed Mumbai where Imran Khan can take his most prized possessions - his cars - out for a spin. So, when asked to drive his Ferrari California down to the sylvan, smooth roads of Film City in Goregaon, the Delhi Belly actor seemed more than eager. Khan's obsession with cars dates back to when he was just eight years old, and Santa Claus dropped by his house to leave the miniature model of a Ferrari F14 under the X'mas tree.
Though he hadn't really asked for the gift, he felt elated and rather impressed with Santa's good taste. Today, Khan holds on to that model as he continues to pack the driveway of his residence in Pali Hill with swanky cars. His wife Avantika admittedly doesn't share the same enthusiasm, but he isn't complaining. He just hopes that his baby girl, Imara, grows up to love cars as much as he does.
To say that Khan is particular about his cars would be an understatement, given that he washes them himself. Further proof? During the course of the photo shoot, he kept polishing the bonnet of a car, and while driving, he would give the other cars a wide berth to ensure that his vehicle suffers no scratch or dent. Driving holds a dear place in Khan's heart. "I find it therapeutic," he says. "I don't really do things that people find exciting or interesting. This is one place where I allow myself some leeway."
TOY STORY
When I was eight, I was gifted a red Ferrari F14 for Christmas by Santa Claus. It was a highly detailed model. You could open the doors, and turn the steering wheel to move the tyres. Open the rear end of the car, and you could see an exact replica of the engine. I still have it. After that I said, 'I may never own a Ferrari in my life, but someday I will surely drive one.'
FIRST FERRARI RIDE
I first drove a Ferrari when I bought one in February 2012. Prior to that, I never got a chance to drive one. I let all my friends drive my cars. The day I got it, every one of the boys took it out. You have to.
BIKES VS CARS
I don't like bikes at all. There are some people who do, but I have no interest in them whatsoever. For me, cars are sculptural As something to look at, I find them stunningly beautiful. There is always this balance that designers and engineers are trying to achieve between form and function. You want it to look beautiful, but you want it to be fast and stable at the same time.
My first car was a champagne coloured Maruti Zen VXi. I got it when I was 21. It was the last of its kind, because they changed its design soon after. I kitted it out myself. I got black leather interiors, and removed the front seat headrests to make the car seem larger. I spent every rupee I had on a kickass sound system. I have marvellously fond memories of that car. It is still around. I sold it to an employee in my office, and he brings it to work daily.
ON DRIVING
It's therapeutic. In fact, I enjoy driving alone because when there are other people in the car, I feel responsible for them. So I have to drive in a different, safe and by-the-letter, way. When there aren't any people with me, then I am only responsible for myself, so I can have more fun. Avantika doesn't enjoy driving much. She is a very nervous passenger. I enjoy performance driving. I've worked hard to become a better driver. I'm a very staid person otherwise. This, for me, is one place where I allow myself some leeway.
CAR ANECDOTES
Until very recently, I had a Porsche Cayenne. When I sold it, it was heartbreaking to watch the car roll out of my gate. Once, at some point, I gave it for servicing, and they gave me a new model as a replacement. As if that wasn't good enough, they also lent me a new Cayman, which is a tiny sports car that looks almost like a go-kart, for a couple of days. Amazingly, it weighs nothing. So I called my two friends, who are as car-crazy as I am. Each of us took a car - I my Ferrari, one the Cayenne and the other a Cayman - and hooked our phones to the Bluetooth system and did a three-way conference call as we drove around on the Bandra-Worli Sea Link on a Sunday. We were zipping up and down, and I'd be the first to admit that we were not following the rules. We had a great time for around four to five hours, until we were finally pulled over. Seeing one of my friends smile sheepishly, one of the cops asked him, 'Why are you grinning like that?'
Around the time I had bought the Cayenne, I went to pick up Avantika. Funnily, she almost climbed into an Innova thinking it was my Cayenne. She doesn't appreciate my car obsession. (When the actor first started dating Avantika, he didn't know how to drive, and he didn't own a car either. The couple would drive around in Avantika's Daewoo Matiz which didn't have power steering. Driving that was like getting an arm workout, says Khan.)
WHAT'S NEXT
My favourite was always a Ferrari. Now that I have one, the next thing I want to drive is an Aston Martin DB9. It was the car used in Bond films, and sounded like it had a pack of hungry dogs under the hood. All cars sound different. The sound of the Ferrari is very different from that of the Lamborghini or Porsche. Most sports cars tend to have engines in the rear but there is a genre called GranTurismo, which is a touring car meant for cross country races. It is meant to be a bit more comfortable and luxurious, but still performance-oriented. Aston Martin is one of them.
HIS LOVE FOR FERRARI
It is unlikely to die. There is a very distinct personality type of people who like Lamborghini and Porsche. A Ferrari-type, on the other hand, is classic and cultured.
