Imran Khan's Detention Video Goes Viral, Internet Says 'Jai Singh Rathod After 18 Years'

Actor Imran Khan was detained by Mumbai Police on Saturday during protests linked to the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP). Several videos of the actor being detained have since gone viral on social media, with users drawing parallels between the visuals and a scene straight out of a Bollywood film.

What's Happening

In the videos circulating online, Imran can be seen being manhandled by a group of police personnel as he is taken away. However, what caught the Internet's attention was the actor's smile throughout the incident.

Soon, social media users began sharing the clips with film soundtracks, including Sadda Haq and Imran's own song Dhatt Teri Ki Ghar Nahi Jaana, turning the visuals into a series of cinematic edits.

For many fans, the moment brought back memories of Imran's much-loved character Jai Singh Rathod from Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na. The 2008 romantic comedy, which became a favourite among a generation of moviegoers, continues to hold a special place in the hearts of his fans.

As the detention videos made the rounds, several users joked that Jai Singh Rathod was back, nearly 18 years after the film's release.

A post shared by Sumit Dubey (@yesthatsumit)

Internet Reacts

The videos prompted a wave of reactions, with users describing the visuals as something straight out of a movie. One user wrote, "Bro made it look like a movie scene."

Another commented, "Jai Singh Rathod after 18 years."

Drawing attention to the actor's smile amid the commotion, a user wrote that Imran was "having his own heroic moment."

The cinematic comparisons continued, with one social media user sharing an imagined AI-generated scenario and writing, "This is what AI generated when I added the prompt: 'Detained but make it like a movie scene'."

Several fans also expressed concern for the actor, with one user writing, "Please be gentle with him, he needs to be protected at all costs."

Imran Khan, Lekha Washington And Zayn Marie Share Updates After Release

Lekha Washington took to Instagram on Saturday night to share a reel confirming that they were safe after being released. In a subsequent Instagram Story, she was seen hugging Imran Khan and Zayn after the trio returned home.

However, Lekha also claimed that their difficulties continued even after their release. In an earlier reel, she said they were unable to book a cab to return home because Mumbai Police were allegedly threatening drivers who agreed to take them.

A post shared by Lekha Washington (@lekhawashington)

A post shared by Lekha Washington (@lekhawashington)

A post shared by Lekha Washington (@lekhawashington)

Zayn Marie also documented their detention through a series of Instagram Stories. She reposted footage showing the actors being taken into a police van, allegedly without being informed about their destination.

In another video recorded inside the vehicle, she was heard raising slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah while demanding Gyanesh Kumar's resignation. A few passers-by on the road subsequently joined the slogans.

In another Instagram Story, Zayn spoke about what happened after they reached Yellow Gate police station. She claimed that when the three asked the officials why they had been detained, they received no clear explanation. The actors eventually decided to leave the police station but were allegedly followed by an officer.

Explaining the situation, Zayn said, "I've been asking him why we were detained, but he has no clue either. He just says, 'Two minutes,' and then goes on the phone for hours," she added, with a shrug of her shoulders.

Videos shared by other protesters also showed Imran speaking about the incident. In one clip, he claimed that he, Lekha and Zayn had been driven around in a police van for a couple of hours without being given a reason for their detention.

Another video showed Imran and Zayn questioning police officers about why they were being held. When the officers walked away without responding, Imran bid them goodbye with a "Jai Hind!".

A post shared by Lalit Sharma (@adv_lalit_sharma_)

A post shared by Lalit Sharma (@adv_lalit_sharma_)

Imran Khan Recreates Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na Reference Inside Police Van

Amid the tense situation, Zayn shared a lighthearted video featuring Imran inside the police van. The clip referenced the actor's 2008 debut film, Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na, directed by Abbas Tyrewala.

In the cult romantic comedy, Imran played Jai Rathore, a non-violent young man from a family of warriors in Rajasthan. His character has to fulfil three conditions - ride a horse, go to jail and beat someone up - to earn the title of a true "Ranjore ka Rathore".

Recalling the conditions in the film, Zayn asked Imran whether he had ever ridden a horse, gone to jail or beaten someone up. Imran responded with a chuckle that he had ridden a horse but had never assaulted anyone in real life. He also expressed uncertainty about whether his detention would lead to jail time.

"Ho sakta hai (it's possible)," he said.

Imran also caught the attention of social media users after posting a photograph of himself inside the police van on Instagram. The actor captioned the picture, "Apparently I'm going for a drive."

A post shared by Imran Khan (@imrankhan)

Zayn subsequently reposted a fan-made meme featuring the photograph, accompanied by Imran's popular dance track Dhatt Teri Ki Main Ghar Nahi Jana from Punit Malhotra's 2013 romantic comedy Gori Tere Pyaar Mein.

Why Were Imran Khan And Other Protesters Detained?

The detention took place during demonstrations organised by the Cockroach Janata Party, whose members were demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The controversy gained wider attention following an investigation into the revision exercise. Protests were organised in several parts of the country, including Mumbai and Delhi, as demonstrators called for accountability over the alleged irregularities.

Mumbai Police maintained that permission had not been sought for the gathering at August Kranti Maidan. CJP workers, however, claimed that they had emailed the authorities requesting permission but had not received a response.

The police action extended beyond Mumbai. In Delhi, more than 4,000 protesters were detained across the capital, primarily in areas around Jantar Mantar, the designated protest site. Several CJP leaders and prominent opposition politicians were also detained before they could assemble at the venue.