Imran Khan is the son of Anil Pal and Nuzhat Khan. Anil, who works as a senior manager at Yahoo in Silicon Valley, was a classmate of director Mansoor Khan, Nuzhat’s brother, at IIT Bombay. Anil and Nuzhat married but divorced when Imran was one and half years old. He grew up with the surname Khan as his mother brought him up in India. However, he moved to live with his father in California, to finish high school. He then trained in film making in New York. He is also the nephew of actor Aamir Khan, director Mansoor Khan and the grandson of Nasir Hussain who was a noted director and producer. While living in India, he studied at Bombay Scottish School, Mahim in Mumbai, and for a brief period in Bangalore.

Khan made appearances as a child artist in his uncle Aamir’s films Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988) and Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander (1992). Both times he played the role of a young Aamir Khan. He aspired to be a director, as that was his original plan before he entered Bollywood as an actor. Khan joined Kishore Namit Kapoor’s Acting Institute in Mumbai.

He made his debut as a lead actor in the 2008 film Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na, which was produced by his uncle Aamir Khan and co-starred Genelia D’Souza as the heroine. The film received excellent reviews from the critics and was successful at the box office. His next movie was Kidnap with Sanjay Dutt and Minissha Lamba where he play’s his first villain role. The teen sensation will make his next appearance in Luck with Shruti Haasan and Sanjay Dutt. His forthcoming movie Delhi Belly is about a NRI coming back to India and getting involved in all sorts situations, it is a comedy.