Imran Khan

Imran Khan

Imran Khan Biography

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Imran Khan transformed from the glamour boy of cricket to a powerful leader. London-based Frank Huzur pens Imran Khan's official biography, Imran Vs Imran: the Untold Story. He discovers Imran to be a very powerful motivator, a revolutionary crusader, yet vulnerable to all the dark and bright shades of mortal living. 

Imran vs Imran, is there a duality in his personality? What are the two sides of Imran you're discovering? 

We've tried to study the two very pronounced contrasts in the life and times of Imran Khan Niazi. Imran before spring of 1992 and Imran Khan post-1992, when his political life started! The superstar cricket legend in Imran Khan is all about star quality. He is the Lothario, Casanova, Errol Flynn and Tiger Woods rolled into one in his first innings. I experienced a kind of witchery in the ravishment of Imran. When I was at The Tramp, the famous nightclub in London, the lady who received me for a chit-chat over Imran Khan couldn't suppress her giggles. She said, "Imran was a sorcerer. There was no gaudiness in his glamour bar. His each appearance on the floor of The Tramp pulled capacity presence of West End's chic crowd. Ever since he has disappeared, the sparkle in glamour quotient of many nightclubs in London has been robbed off a little splash and shine." 

What's the glamour of being Imran Khan? 

The superstar cricketer Immy radiates tons of glitzy charisma, the politician and philanthropist Imran display character, integrity, and stoic idealization. I ran into a betel pan seller in the bustling street of famous Anarkali Bazar in Lahore. Imran in his second innings inspire awe, nostalgic sentiment and grace. But, not for the constituency of politics in his homeland where political practitioner are famed bloodsucking creatures! Then, Imran has been a learner. 

How did this biography happen? 

It was a long haul in terms of chasing my childhood icon up and down in India and Pakistan. In my maiden encounter with him in New Delhi in early 2007, I convinced Imran that I wanted to write a political biography, not a literature spinning yarn about his controversial celebrity hang-up and pizzazz. In my second visit to Pakistan, Imran and his family and trusted friends agreed to wish me good luck in writing on the letter head. Imran himself wrote the memorable lines. The round of interviews got into top gear over the period of next 39 months. I enjoyed unprecedented access into family courtyard of Imran, his sisters, cousins, nephews and Jemima Goldsmith Khan in Fulham Broadway, London. When the first draft of the manuscript was born, I presented it to both Imran and Jemima. She took personal and special interest in the manuscript only because it was the 'official' biography of her ex-husband. She edited the chapter constructed on the basis of her sparkling and candid conversation. In fact, Jemima edited all chapters where she is mentioned and quoted. 

Tell us about the private side of Imran Khan, which is unknown to the world? 

Imran is a protective brother to his four sisters. His sisters are still in awe of the truth that their protective brother could become a playboy. 

His silence and shyness in a group of people has been misconstrued as arrogance. While talking to women, he doesn't feel comfortable gazing into their eyes. He lives like a hermit, wears soiled, rumpled and starchless shalwar kameez and keep on wearing it for days on the campaign trails. He doesn't carry wallet at all. Even when he visits out of Pakistan, he doesn't slip into Paul Smith suits as he would do in his cricketing days. 

Jemima's separation haunts him. He feels pinching absence sometimes in leisure at his idyllic hilltop home in Bannigalla, Islamabad. He told me, "Jem is mother of my two sons. She will forever remain my eternal flame of heart and soul." He has stopped attending musical concerts for pleasure ever since Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan died. Music and Mujara of Lahore are no longer soothing to his senses. 

However, in moment of needling melancholy, some of his servants tease him playing records of Teesri Kasam, showman Raj Kapoor's classic cinema. Imran loves the lyrics and music and still lust like an innocent listener. Imran has likings for theatrics of Raj Kapoor and considers him a 'the showman entertainer with a socialist heart.' He likes Aamir Khan's method of filmmaking and acting more than his good buddy Shah Rukh Khan. 

You met Jemima in London too, there's an entire chapter in the book on their marriage? 

Jemima has been brutally sincere and honest with me in her impressions of Imran Khan, friends and foes in Pakistan. She told me her nine-year-odyssey in Lahore and Islamabad in residency, were full of roughshod experiences, more on political fronts. With passage of time, she began to realise opponents of Imran Khan were targeting her more to create mental disequilibrium in life of Imran. One political party charged Jemima of being a student of Salman Rushdie. The religious parties were united in their attack for her Jewish background. The decision to divorce was taken out of deep social and political compulsions, rather than some serious rupture in the mutual interest and confidence. Imran's long absence at home also contributed to swelling hills of despair and frustrations. For once, Jemima began to feel like a 'grass widow.' They are still best of pals. 

So, Imran denies having an affair with Benazir? 

It is true Imran didn't have intimacy with Benazir. He told me they were best of friends on Oxford lawns. The allegation oriented towards sexual intimacy by Christopher Sandford in his biography on Imran Khan annoys Imran. A cousin of Imran enjoyed much affinity and intimacy with the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Benazir. Benazir was also deeply attracted towards Imran's cousin. I don't want to name the cousin because Imran had expressed his desire not to make the name public. When Benazir joined Lady Margret Hall college in Oxford, Imran was at Keble, and a year senior to her in the campus. She was the daughter of Prime Minister and full of vaulted sentiments and had more White boys in her closest circle. Morevoer, Imran was not a playboy at the time. 

What is his relationship with his two sons? 

Imran is a doting father to Sulaiman and Kasim.. Imran carrying Sulaiman and Kasim on his shoulders and strolling in neighbourhood market was a common sight on many evenings. Never before did Imran was seen so much satisfied and happy in the past decades or so. Even when children are with Jemima in London, he makes it a point to bring them twice to Pakistan during summer and winter vacations. The agreement of separation allows Imran to spend a fortnight with Sulaiman and Kasim in London. Imran enjoys very beautiful relationship with Lady Annabel. 

What about the women in his life, the 'love-child' controversy with Sita White? 

Imran told me he was a normal individual vulnerable to temptations in his cricket and glamour circuit. He was like any other bachelor. Ladies were falling at his feet wherever he would go. He couldn't resist the temptation. He told me he would have definitely married a Muslim woman of his own culture and society had he been able to spend maximum days in Pakistan. 

Sita White scandal was a very disturbing point. Imran has avoided direct questions over the most infamous episode of his life. It put question mark over the 'moral authority' of a politician who is in race for the hot seat of Prime Minister. Imran began to realise that he had committed a grave blunder in denying the paternity to innocent girl born out of 'one night of passion' with Anna Louise White. (Sita White's real name—She calls herself Sita after her deep fascination with Indian Yogic exercises). Jemima stood by her husband's side during Sita White scandal like a rock-solid companion. It was Jemima who turned out to be an affectionate surrogate mother to Tyrian Jade White. Anna Louise White died in July of 2004. The greatest revelation in the book relates to the narrative where Jemima has confessed to be guardian of Tyrian. Tyrian often visits her brothers, Sulaiman and Kasim and she may join them for higher education in England. Imran is a transformed character. 

What about his political ambitions? 

Imran wants to rule Pakistan in his own inimitable manners. He is not in politics for power play, but for dismantling the pyramids of corruption. He is a proud Pathan and often wails vehemently on streets over loss of lives in drone attacks. 

Despite being a modernist in his private retreats, he approves the traditional culture and costumes. I found Imran Khan to be more pro-India voice in Pakistan than any other political leader. He inspires the youth with many positive tales from India." 

What was the biggest challenge being Imran Khan's biographer? 

The biggest challenge was running around Imran Khan for his unpredictable schedule. I didn't give up though. My nationality was another big challenge. Imran never intimidated me nor did he ever discourage me. He was always so polite to the fault and enjoyed encouraging me to pen a good, objective account. It was Imran who encouraged me not to ignore the controversial and dark sides of his tumultuous journey if I believe there are some, so that the biography can't become a hagiography. This is a powerful characteristic of a legendary character that learns out of his own criticism. The biography taught me many lessons in life.

Imran Khan

Imran  Khan

Imran Khan

Imran Khan

Imran Khan

Imran Khan

Imran Khan

Imran Khan

Imran Khan

Imran Khan

Imran Khan