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Lagaan Actor Reveals Cricket Sham on Set
16 Jun
Summary
- Actor Paul Blackthorne admitted poor cricket skills during Lagaan filming.
- Clever editing and crew patience masked his batting limitations.
- Blackthorne suffered heat stroke after sleeping in a hot costume area.
Actor Paul Blackthorne, who portrayed Captain Andrew Russell in Aamir Khan's acclaimed film 'Lagaan,' has shared surprising behind-the-scenes details.
Speaking 25 years after the film's release on June 15, 2001, Blackthorne admitted his cricket abilities were far from his character's. He explained that the production team used clever editing and patient filming techniques, such as a crew member gently throwing the ball during close-ups, to create the illusion of him being a capable batsman.
Blackthorne also recounted a frightening incident where he suffered heat stroke. He fell asleep for approximately three hours in a sweltering costume area and later became unwell when called for a photoshoot, requiring him to pour water over himself to cool down.
'Lagaan,' released on June 15, 2001, was a major success, earning an Academy Award nomination. The film's 25th anniversary will be celebrated on June 15, 2026.
