Before Lagaan, Aamir Khan had never worn a dhoti. Surprisingly, he learnt how to tie it in just one day. When asked how audiences would react to seeing their hero in a dhoti, Aamir sensibly replied, “Whether I wear a dhoti in Lagaan or whether it is a period film, all that is irrelevant. Audiences will come if they like the story.” And he was absolutely right — audiences loved it!
Abhishek Bachchan Was the First Choice for Bhuvan
Not many know that director Ashutosh Gowariker had originally waited almost two years for Abhishek Bachchan to accept the role of Bhuvan. However, when Abhishek couldn’t commit, Gowariker eventually moved on. It was by chance that Aamir Khan came across the script — and he immediately jumped at the opportunity. The rest, as they say, was history! Aamir and Gowariker had previously worked together in Baazi, where Aamir dressed in drag for the first and last time. Reflecting on their collaboration, Aamir said, “Ashutosh and I were friends to begin with. The script came from within him, and I trusted his judgment on many things. We did argue at times, but nothing major.”
Rani Mukerji Was Initially Considered As Lead
The first choice for the heroine was Aamir’s favourite, Rani Mukerji. However, due to prior commitments, Rani could not spare two consecutive months required for shooting in Bhuj. Eventually, Aamir and Gowariker decided to cast a newcomer. After shortlisting over 40 fresh faces, Gracy Singh was chosen for the iconic role.
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An Entire Village Was Built in Bhuj
The late Nitin Desai was entrusted with designing a village set in Bhuj that resembled colonial India. Aamir shared, “We built an entire village set in Bhuj. The local community was extremely helpful, and we used local people to construct the set. We incorporated local architectural designs so that the village felt authentic, not artificial. The land belonged to local farmers, and we rented it for one year, compensating them for what they would have earned through farming.”
A British Actor’s Wedding On The Film Set
In an interesting turn of events, two British actors from Lagaan got married in Bhuj while shooting. Aamir recalled, “We had 40 junior artists, 20 of whom came from London. One of the actors, Jamie, arrived with his girlfriend. They expressed their desire to marry in India following Indian customs. One of us suggested they get married right there in Bhuj. We happily organised the wedding on the temple set, complete with sangeet, mehndi, and all traditional rituals.”
