Home / Arts and Entertainment / Lagaan: Producer Wanted Bhuvan to Beat Up Russell!
Lagaan: Producer Wanted Bhuvan to Beat Up Russell!
13 Mar
Summary
- Aamir Khan initially rejected Lagaan's script premise.
- Producers asked to add an action scene to Lagaan's climax.
- Securing a producer for Lagaan took nearly two years.
At the Red Lorry Film Festival 2026, Aamir Khan and Ashutosh Gowariker shared humorous anecdotes about the making of their 2001 film Lagaan. Gowariker recalled Khan's initial rejection of the script, with Khan himself admitting he told Gowariker, "Ashu, teri do flop film ho chuki hai. Ab tu teesri ki planning kar raha hai!" Khan famously declined the script initially, considering it too unusual for mainstream Indian cinema.
The duo also recounted the significant hurdles in finding a producer. Khan challenged Gowariker to find someone who believed in the film and the director, a process that took approximately 1.5 to 2 years. During this period, one producer suggested a drastic change: "End mein action daal de. Bhuvan should remove the stump and beat up Captain Russel!" Both Khan and Gowariker opted not to reveal the producer's identity out of respect.
