Image Courtesy: Bollywoodhungama.com
Aamir Khan’s career caught high speed when he was cast in the Oscar nominated film Lagaan.
However, Did you know Aamir was not the first choice for the role of ‘Bhuvan” in Lagaan?
Ashutosh Gowariker, the director of Lagaan, first offered the role to Abhishek Bachchan and Shahrukh Khan, both of whom passed on the opportunity.
Speaking to Rediff, Ashutosh revealed that Abhishek “loved the film.” But when the filmmaker had offered him the role, ‘they were planning to launch him with JP Dutta — it was a career move they had to make’. He said, “I think they were right in those circumstances. If he had done this, it would’ve become his launch film. I think he would’ve played it differently too.”
As for Shahrukh Khan, Ashutosh quoted, “He would make a different kind of Bhuvan.” Every actor brings a different personality to the role and if SRK had undertaken the project, it would have been a paradigm shift from how the movie actually turned out.”
The narration of the film was undertaken by Amitabh Bachchan, who had to be rigorously persuaded as he previously believed that being a part of the film would bring it “Bad Luck.”
15 June marks the 20th anniversary of Lagaan, a critical and a commercial success.