Imtiaz Ali reveals story behind Sharvari Wagh's turban moment in ‘Maskara’; Creative process of song from ‘Main Vaapas Aaunga’ explained

‘Main Vaapas Aaunga’ is set against the backdrop of the 1947 Partition era and features an ensemble cast including Diljit Dosanjh, Naseeruddin Shah, Vedang Raina, and Sharvari Wagh. Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali has spoken about the inspiration and development process behind the song “Maskara” from his upcoming film 'Main Vaapas Aaunga'. He shared the details through his Instagram series MVA Diaries, where he posted archival visuals along with an audio note describing the making of the track. The film stars Vedang Raina and Sharvari Wagh in lead roles. The music is composed by A. R. Rahman, while lyrics are penned by Irshad Kamil.According to the Statesman, Imtiaz Ali revealed that “Maskara” was not built through a rigid or pre-designed structure. The team travelled to Punjab for the shoot without having a choreographer finalized at the start. The idea of the sequence gradually developed during discussions around the characters. What began as a simple concept slowly evolved as the creative team explored the emotional layers of the story. The tone of the song shifted over time, becoming more expressive and detailed as the shoot progressed. The director explained that the process allowed the scene to grow organically rather than being locked into a fixed visual format from the beginning.A key turning point in the creative process came after a conversation with Sharvari Wagh. The actress shared that during her childhood she was not allowed to attend social events like prom. She would often imagine herself dancing alone in her room. Imtiaz Ali said this memory became central to the emotional foundation of “Maskara”. It influenced the way the sequence was visualised, especially the idea of a single dancer creating an imagined partner.According to him, this sense of solitude and imagination helped define the emotional language of the song.While the emotional vision was clear, Imtiaz Ali said the execution required additional creative support. Choreographer Nancy Dogra later joined the project to translate these emotional ideas into structured movement on screen.Imtiaz explained that he focused on the feeling and internal rhythm of the scene, while the choreography team worked on converting those ideas into physical form. This balance helped the performance maintain both spontaneity and structure.The result was a visual approach that combined natural emotion with planned movement, creating a layered performance style.Imtiaz Ali also addressed the specific visual detail involving Sharvari’s character, Gia. In the song, she is shown imagining Vedang Raina’s character, Kinu, while performing. During this imagined interaction, Gia begins to take on aspects of Kinu’s personality. This emotional transition is represented through her wearing a turban in certain moments of the sequence. The director explained that the intention was not literal storytelling but emotional symbolism, showing how deeply she connects with the imagined presence.Imtiaz Ali hinted that the musical composition also played a key role in shaping the final version of “Maskara”. While he did not elaborate extensively, he suggested that the sound design supports the emotional intimacy of the visuals.'Main Vaapas Aaunga', directed by Imtiaz Ali, is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on June 12.