On the occasion of Aamir Khan’s 60th birthday on March 14, PVR INOX announced Aamir Khan: Cinema Ka Jadugar, a special film festival celebrating the actor’s contributions to Indian cinema. During the trailer launch of the festival, veteran lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar revealed that he initially advised Aamir against doing two of his most iconic films—Lagaan (2001) and Rang De Basanti (2006).
Javed Akhtar’s Doubts About Lagaan
Speaking at the event, Aamir Khan shared how Javed Akhtar had strong reservations about Lagaan, questioning the film’s viability. “Javed saab told me not to do Lagaan. He said, ‘Ye kya kar rahe ho? There is everything wrong with the film. Hero dhoti mein kaise ho sakta hai? You are wearing dhoti. Hero yaha period story mein nahi ho sakta’ (What are you doing? Everything about this film is wrong. How can a hero wear a dhoti? A hero cannot be in a period film like this),” Aamir recalled.
Despite Javed Akhtar’s skepticism, Aamir trusted his instincts and went ahead with the project. Directed by Ashutosh Gowariker, Lagaan became a massive success both critically and commercially. The film also earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film at the 74th Oscars, further cementing its legacy.
‘Bina Hero Ke Kaise Hogi?’ – Javed Akhtar on Rang De Basanti
Aamir Khan also revealed that Javed Akhtar had similar doubts about Rang De Basanti, directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra. “Javed saab also told me not to do Rang De Basanti. He said, ‘Climax mein hero hi nahi hain. Bina hero ke kaise hogi? The main lead is playing some random role’ (The climax does not have the hero, so how will it work? The main lead is not the central figure in the end).”
However, Aamir emphasized that his priority has always been the overall film rather than his individual role. “For me, the film is more important than me or any other star. So I always do everything that makes the film bigger,” he said.
Released in 2006, Rang De Basanti became a cultural phenomenon and was widely appreciated for its storytelling and social impact. The film, which also starred Sharman Joshi, Atul Kulkarni, Kunal Kapoor, Siddharth, and Soha Ali Khan, went on to win multiple awards and is considered one of Aamir Khan’s best works.
A Legacy of Bold Choices
Aamir Khan’s career has been defined by his willingness to take risks and challenge conventional storytelling norms. Despite initial skepticism from industry veterans like Javed Akhtar, Aamir’s choices have often resulted in cinematic milestones. Lagaan and Rang De Basanti remain two of the most celebrated films in Indian cinema, proving that sometimes, unconventional decisions lead to extraordinary success.
Sources By Agencies
